The Delightful Daffodil
Aaaaa-CHOO! It’s almost spring! The flowers are beginning to bloom, the birds are singing, and soon, we’ll be sneezing! If you are one of the millions who suffer from spring allergies, here are a few tips to ease the symptoms.
• Keep the windows closed in your home and in your car
to ward off dust and pollen.
• Your pets bring pollen into your home each time they
go out and come back in. Vacuum your furniture often to keep dirt and pollen at bay.
•
Pollen settles on hair during the day. Washing your hair each night can wash the pollen down the drain.
• Wear a mask when mowing the yard. Mowing stirs grass
pollen up into the air and into your nose which results in sneezing and coughing.
•
Vacuum and dust regularly. Don’t forget the bookshelves, window ledges, and upholstered furniture.
This is the time of year when we watch our world explode in a kaleidoscope of yellow, purple, green, and pink color. One of the first flowers to bloom each spring is the beautiful daffodil. This perennial has a trumpet-shaped structure in the middle of star-shaped petals. The trumpet may be the same, or a contrasting color from the petals. Originally discovered in Spain, the daffodil is considered to be a “must-have” in the American garden. These beauties grow from bulbs in large clusters and can cover a hillside in sunshine yellow. After blooming, the foliage should be left alone until it turns brown. If you want to transplant the bulbs, they can be dug up, washed off, and hung to dry in pantyhose. Keep them in a cool place until you are ready to plant them next fall. Daffodil bulbs require rich, well-drained soil, and lots of water. Plant a few and watch in wonder as they multiply and fill your garden with colorful blossoms each spring.
March 2021 | 50+ Living | 17
