Daffodils: Part IV

These daffodils sprouting in my front yard are early ones. They start poking their tips through the cold, hard soil in January and early February, whereas the fields once farmed by my grandfather don't usually start sprouting until mid to late March. Do you see that pine branch on the ground just to the left? That was from my homemade Christmas wreath fiasco. If you know what I'm talking about, let's move on. If you don't, let's move on even faster and pretend it was never mentioned--just know that poor pine branch was once distorted in ways unmentionable in my failed attempt to be cutesy. I don't do cutesy and don't know why I try, especially given the severe domestic disability that I've had since birth.


Below is a continuation of a speech on daffodils my paternal grandmother gave to a garden club convention in Richmond back in the 1970's. The previous 3 chapters are in the archives; I'd link them except I'm too tired to.

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"...Probably every normal human being looks forward to Spring, when Mother Nature slowly turns up the wick and the world gives promise of awakening. Daffodils love that early period when spring is more promise than fact and returns color and growth to our gardens a whole month earlier than would otherwise be possible over most of the so-called temperate zone. The earliness of daffodils--before the onslaught of any heat - or bugs - constitutes the first major reason for growing them--they require minimum effort and serve almost every purpose.

There are over five thousand named varieties appearing in the catalogues of the world today, and this assures the widest source for individual tastes and needs. Every color except blue is included, with countless combinations and variations in form. They range in height from 2" to 30" and their bloom period extends from six to eight weeks, from the last trace of winter to the advent of tulips and the processions of other flowers that follow.

Daffodils can be colorfully casual by the kitchen doorstep, or properly formal in borders. They dominate the early shows because of their exquisite form, balance and texture and bring home coveted blue ribbons. They are lovely indoors-whether carefully arranged or in a casual bouquet--and they are good companions to most of the other flowers and greenery which is available in the spring. Indeed the daffodil is the all purpose family plant for every spring garden." To be continued....

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CBW Again Because She Always Has to Have the Last Word

No, I don't have to have the last word, really. One might argue that successfully, but I would proffer (proffer? where did I pull that one from?) that I am really trying to provide additional perspective on what is being said.

In this case, that isn't it.

No, I just came back here to say that by this weekend I will be writing about a birthday: This blog baby of a site turned one last Sunday, but I was too busy writing my own obituary (due to the flu) to take notice. I'm ordering up clowns, face painters, a magician, pony rides, fiddler crab exhibits, fireworks, gill net games, pin the tail on the flounder, musicians, a three-layer cake, a three-ring circus and food to beat the band.

In case I don't get around to doing all that (three-ring circus notwithstanding since that's already woven into the fabric of daily life around here), just remind me to tell you about how this blog came to be.

Then, maybe you can remind me why it is still around.