We have moved!
Please visit us and bookmark our new location on the daffodilfestivals.com website (a resource listing of Daffodil Festivals and Gardens) - here is our new blog address for First Daffodils 2009:
http://www.daffodilfestivals.com/firstdaffodils
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Irish Daffodils are Smiling
We wrote to the photographer piasosua to inquire about this beautiful image taken on January 28, 2009: The photo was taken in Ireland, in a very quiet rural place in the midlands, after a night of severe frost. These daffodils are part of a long row of them which runs along the whole front of an old house. They are all of them yellow.
Spring is coming in Correze, France
We have daffodils coming up in France! The photographer Arnac19 tells us: They are currently poking through the edge of my rockery bed next to our driveway in Arnac-Pompadour, Correze, France. The garden is still a work in progress, but I was desperate for a bit of cheery spring colour. I planted them in November 2007 and they had their first flowering last spring, but not until March time. They are very early this year, but still have a long way to go until flowering.
I'm sorry I can't tell you what their name is - I just brought a bag of mixed from our local Supermarket when they were on promo, dug a hole, dropped the lot in, and kept my fingers crossed for a colourful display. I was not disappointed.
This photo was taken on January 26, 2009.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunny and Warm in Northern California
Photographer bondgurl posts this photo of daffodils in bloom already in Northern California. She logs these comments with the image posted to Flickr: Emilie's Denali Training Hike at Mount Diablo State Park starting from the Regency Drive Gate in Clayton CA. 10 miles 3000+ feet elevation gain. January 24, 2009.
bondgurl sends us these additional comments: I don't know much about daffodils, but it has been a very warm sunny January here in California so it doesn't surprise me that flowers feel like blooming. Apparently these daffodils are possibly a remnant of an old cabin site that burned down several years ago.
Of extra special interest: bondgurl describes the Donner Canyon Road hike in her photoblog Rambling. Spend some time with the blog, and you'll be moving to the San Francisco area just to hike the trail of Mount Diablo State Park.
The insiders are starting to bloom in Seattle, Washington
We wrote to the photographer Lecia /A Day That is Dessert to ask about this graceful daffodil: The photo was taken in my home in Seattle, WA. I have a pot of bulbs I bought from Hearthsong; this is the first of the bulbs to start to bloom.
This photo was taken on January 25, 2009
Great Creations in Norwood, North Carolina
This seasonal image by photographer jackiesmith60 was taken on January 20, 2009. Here is what Jackie shares with us about the photo and daffodils: What I can share about it is - it was taken in Norwood, NC and we had just had our first little snow of about 4 inches. We hadn't had snow since 2004 so what a delight to see some. Anyway, it only lasted the one day and as I was out and about snapping away as the snow was melting I found this little patch of daffodils poking their little heads out!! Really surprised me cause I hadn't seen them earlier. I was pleased to see 2 reminders of our creators makings in one day!
Daffodils are out in Tracy, California
This photograph was taken in Northern California on January 25, 2009. The photographer seiji66 writes this comment on the flickr post: Photographed this morning - being from the east coast, I still can't get over how something so beautiful can bloom in January out here in California.
Here is more information from seiji66: This photo was taken this morning in Tracy, CA. I've lost track if it is blooming late or early - I just transplanted them last summer from another spot in the yard (was getting too much sun.). Although we're pretty much in a drought this year, the daffodils don't appear to be suffering.
Money's Worth in Sheffield, UK
This January 17, 2009 photo was taken by photographer ann creasey, who comments on the flickr post: Bought these daffodil bulbs half price five years ago. They have been beautiful every year since.
Here's additional detail from Ann: It was taken on one of our allotments in Sheffield UK. We have had the plot since Sept 2003 and the bulbs are planted in one side of an old green house we found on the site when clearing the weeds. We just rebuilt the brick work and use it as raised beds.
We bought a sack of bulbs half price at the very end of the season in 03 and they have faithfully produced masses of flowers every spring since. I will take more pictures as the spring goes on. They were up before Christmas this year, I am sure this is early even for them. The bed, being raised, is warmer than the surrounding soil.
New Shoots in Baildon, England
This elegant photo was taken on January 25, 2009. The photographers Sarah and Mike...probably wrote this on the flickr post: The spring flowers are starting to show in our garden. Daffodils are Mike's favourite, and these ones are well on their way.
Here is more detail, definitely from Sarah and Mike...probably: The daffodils are in our garden. I took the picture this afternoon (25 Jan) in Baildon, which is a town near Bradford in the north of England.
I don't know how long they've been planted, but these ones are under a fir tree next to the road. There are quite a few others with them.
Cold Daffodils in Carrboro, North Carolina
We're always intrigued by photos of snow and daffodils. Here is what photographer TEB471959 has to say about this January 21, 2009 photo: In Carrboro, North Carolina, a snow-less winter is not unusual, but last Tuesday, January 20th, we awoke to find about an inch (2.5 cm) on the ground. The daffodils took it in stride. I expect they will bloom toward the second half of February, along with the hellobores and the Siberian squill. The snowdrops are already in bloom. The tulips will be just a bit later. Spring is the best for gardening in North Carolina. The summers can get pretty hot, and sometimes pretty dry. We had a drought in 2007, as did most of the southeast, because no tropical storms came up the coast. Carrboro is near Chapel Hill, around the center on the state, in the "Research Triangle" area.
Almost Daffodils in Beaverton, Oregon
We love the composition of this photo (picture in a picture). The photographer one beach tells us about this January 24, 2009 photo: The photo of my daffodils was taken in my backyard, in Beaverton, Oregon. I planted over 100 about 6 years ago, but the squirrels and moles liked them a lot, so I only get a few blooms anymore.
Back Porch Daffodils in El Cerrito, California
Photographer didgeridoo. tells us about this January 21, 2009 photo: The pic was taken on my back porch in El Cerrito (next door to Berkeley), California. Umm, not much to say. I planted them late October. They are the first I've grown so we'll see how it goes!
Vêm aí os narcisos - Here come the daffodils in Guarda, Portugal
This January 20, 2009 photo was posted by photographer beny_alliot, with the comment: Os narcisos estão a brotar atravez da neve The daffodils are coming through the snow. This is from my own garden in Guarda - Portugal.
We wrote to beny_alliot for additional information: Hello, Normally daffodils open around March . I am french but I live in the highest city in Portugal (1040m). I have one planted inside the house though and it will open much sooner.
Our first daffodils in Portugal!
New Daffodils in Mount Vernon, Washington
daffodils, originally uploaded by Jessamyn T.
This January 16, 2009 photo originally appeared on Jessamyn's garden blog, Jessamyn's Garden. Jessamyn tells us: The photo was taken in my small urban garden in Mount Vernon, WA, with a macro lens, and the daffodils appear to be some King Alfred type, but I'm not sure of the variety because they came with the house. They're very tall and sturdy when they bloom.
Green Shoots and Tag in Melbourn, England
The photographer innpictime took this photo on January 11, 2009. He added the following comment to the flickr post: Wild daffodil shoots appearing. Spring is in sight! (I was going to title this "The Baroness Woz 'Ere" but then thought that was a little unfair! Green shoots news story.)
Innpictime added the following details for us: The photo was taken at the bottom of my back garden in Melbourn, 10 miles south of Cambridge, England.
Off topic, but we have to share this with you --> Innpictime was tagged in the Flickr 16 questions tag game, his Flickr post is a must see, including the comments and photos. Photos were masterfully composed and processed in the darkroom by his mother. We can see he has the photography gene in this comment on a photo taken at Broadstairs 1962: My father took this with my Brownie box camera (you'll recognise that low angle as he held it against his stomach [I must get it out again - I've still got it!]). Mother, at this time, was using an Ilford Advocate, a camera that she loved. It had a white body which made it very stylish and inconspicuous as a camera when most were black (there is one in the Science Museum). I remember it had a heavy body but was very nice to handle. She moved on to an old Leica...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Child's First Daffodils in Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany
We wrote to the photographer, Cathy, to ask about the pair of photos posted from Germany: The first one was taken January 9, the morning after my husband brought them home for my son and me. It's that point in the winter where you just have to be sure that spring is really on the way. My son, who is 3.5 years old, checked them religiously every day to see the flowers appear. We even measured them to make sure that they had grown.., he didn't believe me that they were growing.
[continued next photo]
Child's First Daffodils in Germany, continued
Cathy, the photographer, continues this story of her son's first daffodils: On the evening of January 13, he watered the plant and, I must admit that I was quite amazed to see blooms the next morning. The pic was taken up against my window to the backyard which was white with one of the only snowfalls that has stayed all winter.
Both pics were taken in my home in Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany.
I'll keep my eyes open for more daffodils this spring!
Monday, January 26, 2009
水仙 From the Ground Up on Chinese New Year
Here is a bulb's eye view of the daffodils on Chinese New Year's day. Image was taken by Yalin on January 26, 2009. See the two next posts for more on these daffodils.
Yalin has also sent us these links to a gallery on Picasa (found via a Google search). Photos were posted on January 24, 2009, by photographer Rosa:
picasaweb.google.com/rosacmail/06Rosa#
picasaweb.google.com/rosacmail/07Rosa#
水仙 CNY Daffodils
水仙, originally uploaded by Black Angel ❤.
Photographer Yalin has posted a new photo of her daffodils taken today on January 26, 2009 - Chinese New Year (see below post for the original photo and description). We wrote to hear a little bit more about the tale of the daffodil in Chinese tradition:
There are two tales. I try to translate them for you.
ONE:
In Chinese tale, the daffodils are the avatar of infant EHuang & NvYing. It is said that Emperor Yao have two daughters who are named Ehuang and NvYing. Both Ehuang and NvYing married to the same husband emperor Shun. When the shun die, the Ehuang and NvYing suicide beside the Xiang river for the love. Then their fetches became the daffodils.
TWO:
In the Jiangzhou city of Fujian province, there is a village is called CaiBan It is a countrywoman who is very kind came across a beggar who hardly died of hungry. But no one knew the beggar is a god. The countrywoman picked him back to her room. And then serve him a bowl of rice. The beggar spit the rice from his mouth suddenly. And the rice became the daffodils.
I am sorry for I can’t translate well. I think you will understand clearlier now. LOL~
Happy Chinese New Year, The Year of the Ox
daffodil, originally uploaded by Black Angel ❤ ....
We recently learned that the daffodil is a traditional part of the celebration of the Chinese New Year. When we saw the above photograph, taken with a mobile phone in Canton on January 25, 2009, we wrote to the photographer Yalin to ask about the daffodil in China. Yalin, who is a law student, explains in splendid scholarly detail:
Happy Chinese new year . I am pleasure to answer your question.
Yes. Daffodil is an important flower in Chinese New Year tradition. Er… I think every family would like to buy it during that time. That is for the flower means lucky, elegance, beauty… It’s Chinese name is “ fairy in the water” for there is a tale. The tale says infant died for love beside the river. After that, she became the flower.
Daffodil is not from a garden nursery or a store. Following is the introduce,
1. We buy the daffodil root. And then put it into the basin which is full of water. In order to make the flower erect, we will put some stone into the basin.
Pic: botu.bokee.com/photodata/2007-1-4/000/533/764/5317702/5317702_l.jpg
www1.sekst.edu.hk/subject/pta/photo/ptan4.jpg
Hey, do you now have a question why don’t grow it in the earth? LOL… There is two reasons:
One is for it will be more beautiful when grow in the water. Think, we would like to put it in our living room.
The other is it will be grow fast when grow it in the water. Of course, we have to make sure it can live in the warm circumstance.
If you want to grow it in the earth, you must make sure the earth is humid.
2. After about one month. Of course it depends on the circumstances. It can be abloom.
Pic: dl.zhishi.sina.com.cn/upload/94/20/84/1215942084.8154285.jpg
farm1.static.flickr.com/4/5958633_90a64a805b.jpg
I know the daffodil is from Middle Eur., Med and north Africa. And it have some mutation in CHN. There is the two kinds of this flower:
Single leaves: imgsrc.baidu.com/baike/pic/item/a992e31f7d65f41c304e15cc.jpg
Multiplex leaves: imgsrc.baidu.com/baike/pic/item/08b68e52df1190130cf3e3f6.jpg
I am sorry for my poor English. And I am not the major. So ...I hope that will not make you confused and the information can help you.
Yalin, we understand your English perfectly and admire your attention to detail. We give you an A+ on this daffodil essay! Happy New Year to all.
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