Posted 9:53 pm Thursday, March 07, 2013
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White daffodils trumpet annual weather warm-up
By Dee Bishop
Master Gardener
Master Gardener
Winter is quickly receding into spring. Cold spells are short and not quite so cold and the whole world is about to erupt into bloom.
These little Ice Follies daffodils always bless us with the hope of warmer spring days just before everything else starts to bloom. When you think spring will never come, here they bloom, promising us that spring is just around the corner.
I know, I am writing about more daffodils, but just look at them. Can you think of any other flower that is so sunny and spring looking? That is why everyone needs some daffodils and other members of the narcissus family in their yards.
They multiply and grow easily all over East Texas. Ice Follies open into soft yellow trumpets surrounded by brilliant white petals then turn lighter each day until they are a creamy yellow with white. They are among the largest of the daffies that have large blooms.
These little Ice Follies daffodils always bless us with the hope of warmer spring days just before everything else starts to bloom. When you think spring will never come, here they bloom, promising us that spring is just around the corner.
I know, I am writing about more daffodils, but just look at them. Can you think of any other flower that is so sunny and spring looking? That is why everyone needs some daffodils and other members of the narcissus family in their yards.
They multiply and grow easily all over East Texas. Ice Follies open into soft yellow trumpets surrounded by brilliant white petals then turn lighter each day until they are a creamy yellow with white. They are among the largest of the daffies that have large blooms.
There are many large flowering daffodils, but most need much colder winters than we have and do not multiply very well. Some must be dug and separated every three or four years or they will stop blooming.
These Ice Follies, Fortune (a large yellow) and the old-time King Alfred (not the King Alfred of today) are all large flowering and will multiply for years without having to be dug. All need to be dug when the clump is large with few blooms.
Leaves of narcissus, which includes daffodils and jonquils as well, are the engines of the plant. They make the food that is stored in the bulbs, which will insure a good bloom for next year. The leaves must stay until six to eight weeks after the blooms finish to make that food. Yes, they get ratty looking, but be patient and you will be blessed next year with these beauties when winter just won’t give way to spring.
These Ice Follies, Fortune (a large yellow) and the old-time King Alfred (not the King Alfred of today) are all large flowering and will multiply for years without having to be dug. All need to be dug when the clump is large with few blooms.
Leaves of narcissus, which includes daffodils and jonquils as well, are the engines of the plant. They make the food that is stored in the bulbs, which will insure a good bloom for next year. The leaves must stay until six to eight weeks after the blooms finish to make that food. Yes, they get ratty looking, but be patient and you will be blessed next year with these beauties when winter just won’t give way to spring.
