Daffodils (Genus Narcissus) are the birth flower of March. I can’t think of a better flower to bring in spring. Its bright yellow color chases away the dim grey of winter. The daffodil has many meanings which include chivalry, honesty, forgiveness, rebirth and new beginnings.
“If you love daffodils, you are a loyal friend and lover who takes pleasure in bringing happiness to those around you. You are a giving person with a tendency to conceal any sadness you might feel beneath a sunny smile that brightens the day of everyone you meet. You are a truthful person and a hopeless liar. Your warm personality and ability to remain strong in difficult situations win popularity and admiration.”
— Samantha Gray The Secret Language of Flowers
According to daffodilusa.org there are 40-200 different daffodil species, subspecies or varieties of species and over 25,000 registered cultivars (named hybrids) divided among the 13 divisions of the official classification system.
Did you know that daffodils, once cut, secret a fluid that promotes the wilting of other flowers, so it is best that they be kept alone in a vase. If you must combine them, you need to soak them by themselves for as long as possible (overnight if you can), then rinse and add them to the arrangement last.
If you should want to grow your own little bits of sunshine, plant the bulbs 2-4 weeks before the ground freezes. Plant them 11/2 to 5 times their own depth. Cover with 3 inches of soil especially in severe winter weather. Space the bulbs 3-6 inches apart.
I think they are most beautiful when potted with pansies or lining the border of your walkway.
Daffodowndilly
She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
“Winter is dead.”— A. A. Milne
May your day be filled with beautiful flowers.
