Looking towards First Daffodils 2009

Thanks for visiting the First Daffodils blog in 2008. A special thanks, also, to all of the photographers who permitted us to use their daffodil photographs on these pages. Most of all, a round of applause to the daffodils around the world, "who" gave us so much joy as we watched spring arrive.

Now that the daffodils in the Northern Hemisphere have had their time in the sun (and the snow), we'll have to find other occupations to fill our time until the daffodils come out next spring.

We will post some additional photos from 2008 sometime this summer. Then we'll take a break until January 2o09. Thanks again for stopping by, and see you next year.

In Love With Daffodils in Litchfield, Connecticut

Day Dreaming photo used with permission, courtesy of tmalinski

The spectacular daffodil images just keep on coming. We contacted the photographer, Tom Malinski of the Canton Camera Club, curious about the story behind this photo, and here is what he reports:

This image was taken at the Laurel Ridge Foundation in Litchfield, Connecticut - better known as the Daffodil fields in Northfield. My wife and I visit this place with many of our camera club friends every year. Depending on the weather, the scenic fields with the pond in the background can have many different moods. This photo of a couple sitting in the middle of the flowers holding hands and daydreaming was very touching.

This image was taken on May 4, 2008.

Lochmaddy daffodils

Lochmaddy daffodils photo used with permission, courtesy of scotproof

Another beautiful "daffodils and water" photo from Scotland, courtesy of scotproof. This pretty image was taken on May 2 at Lochmaddy (in Scottish Gaelic, "Loch of the dogs") in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Daffodils at Butchart Gardens, British Columbia

photo used with permission, courtesy of Mike Organ

We've just discovered more beautiful gardens, Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. This image was taken on April 27, 2008.

Lake District daffodils - not at night

spring photo used with permission, courtesy of (not a) token gesture

We really like this photo, which looks like it was taken at night. It was actually taken at 10 AM o 2003. It's in Wordsworth territory, in the Lake District, in Grasmere. We have had only one Lake District photo this year, so we vote to include this one.

Daffodils Window in Zurich, Switzerland

open to daffodils photo used with permission, courtesy of maryam momeni

Very nice! This is one of the most artistic Daffodil Windows we've seen in 2008. The stunning architecture is enhanced by the daffodils arrangement, and we can't take our eyes off this photograph.

Photo taken by photographer maryam momeni on April 6, 2008 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Early Daffodils in Lincolnshire, England

Springtime photo used with permission, courtesy of daveblyth1

Pretty daffodils image taken April 19, 2008. Lots of pretty English countryside in daveblyth1's photostream here.

Daffodils and Manor House in Warwick, UK

Baddesley Clinton photo used with permission, courtesy of Nala Rewop

Photographer Nala Rewop has posted this Baddesley Clinton photo which seems bathed in an historic light. As he notes, "This atmospheric house dates from the 15th century and has changed little since 1634."

We've always wanted to live in a moated manor house.

Image taken on March 30, 2008. The daffodils add a springtime radiance to the composition, which is why we think this photo positively "rocks" (or should we say, "moats").

Spring River at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Spring River photo used with permission, courtesy of slipgrove (Dr. Julia Targ)

Here is another sweet, beautiful image of Chicago Botanic Garden daffodils, taken on May 2, 2008 by Dr. Julia Targ.

Click here for information about the Chicago Botanic Garden, and if you are into daffodils, start planning your visit there in April 2009, when the American Daffodil Society holds its annual convention hosted by the Chicago Botanic Garden.

For some of the best botanic garden photos we've seen, check out Dr. Julia Targ's flickr photostream of the Chicago Botanic Garden in Spring 2008.

Last snow photo for 2008

Snowman photo used with permission, courtesy of Fe em Brasil.
This snowman lived just outside the town of Watford in the South of England, until the sun came out one day. Thanks to Fe em Brasil for an imaginative shot.

The image was taken on April 6, 2008.

Pretty Daffodils in Glasgow, Scotland

daf odils photo used with permission, courtesy of emmar

Now we know what "pretty as a picture" means. This very pretty image was taken on April 20, 2008, in Queen's Park, Glasgow, Scotland.

For a high resolution image, click here.

Daffodils on Laidlehope Burn, Scotland

Laidlehope Burn photo used with permission, courtesy of cessna152towser

Daffodils in wild country always get our attention. We love brooks and daffodils, and we totally love this photograph. The photographer, cessna152towser, tells us the photo was taken in Scotland within a few miles of the English border.

Question: is it "not wild" if it is a man-made earthwork, even if it dates back to 1860? Click here for more history about Laidlehope Burn.

We exchanged emails about the wild daffodils, and cessna152tower has this to add: "There are quite a lot of daffodils along the road verges in this area but I wonder how many are truly wild - along the old country roads, bulbs were often planted by farmers and on modern roads they are often planted as part of the landscaping works."

This image was taken on April 30, 2008.

Daffodils in Lincolnshire, UK

Daffodils photo used with permission, courtesy of Aleeka Salaam

This dreamy photo was taken by Aleeka Salaam on March 29, 2008, at Belton House in Lincolnshire, UK. Belton House is a National Trust building with expansive park grounds.

This photograph, with its painting-like texture, would be very much at home in a national art museum. A shout-out to Vanessa Ho for the texture, says Aleeka.

Black, White, and Yellow in Kew Gardens, London

., originally uploaded by mariae baltica.

Not much yellow in this photo except in our imaginations. Good enough! This supports the idea that black and white photographs can be quite compelling even in Springtime. Image taken at Kew Gardens in London on April 17, 2008.

First Daffodils and Birch at Chicago Botanic Garden

Passage through Birch, originally uploaded by slipgrove.
Photo credit: Dr. Julia Targ

This photograph is one of many beautiful images taken this season at the Chicago Botanic Garden by Dr. Julia Targ. We love the combination of "new" birch and daffodils, grey and yellow. Photo was taken on April 25, 2008.

Daffodils and Forsythia in Twin Lakes, Connecticut

April 29th, 2008 - 89:366, originally uploaded by allisonac.

We love the wild look of this photo, with a bit of organizing provided by the rock border. We agree with the photographer, allisonac, that this is a stunning image. Photo was taken on April 29, 2008, near Twin Lakes, Connecticut.