Today Magazine - Spring 2019

Page 104

Radiating Spring Joy:

Daffodils By Andrew Hind

Canadian winters are long and dreary. We find ourselves longing for the arrival of warmer days, the melting snow, and the revitalization of our yards. Spring, when it finally comes around, arrives slowly, shyly. And then it happens. Seemingly overnight, gardens burst to life with cheerful dashes of gold as daffodils push their way through the soil. Radiating spring joy, daffodils are the perfect tonic for the winter-weary. Some might argue daffodils are the perfect flower: perennial, brightly colored, hardy, and largely care free, and among the first flowers of spring when yards are dreary and colorless. In short, what’s not to love about these quintessential spring favorites? Certainly Charles Hunter, Director of Horticulture for Niagara Parks Commission, appreciates their appeal. “We plant 35,000 daffodils every year, and there are over a million in our parklands stretching from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. Niagara Falls is known as ‘Daffodil Capital of North America’ and for good reason”, he explains. Daffodils, a member of the Amaryllis family, are native to the meadows and woods in Europe, North Africa and western Asia. These harbingers of spring have been inspiring people for centuries; so much so the daffodil is a plant with great cultural significance in many societies. One of the reasons daffodils are so beloved today is the ease in which they are grown. Few flowers give so much and demand so little. “Tulips are the princesses of the bulb world because they demand so much attention, whereas daffodils are largely carefree. They are very soil-tolerant, but do best in moist, well-drained soil,

and flower best in full sun, but will do well in partial shade as well,” Hunter explains. Daffodils will grow under any sunny location, but they look particularly striking in naturalized settings such as on grassy hillsides, along wood-lines, or under the shadows of deciduous trees before they leaf out in late spring. Planting under flowering trees or shrubs is a classic strategy to limit the amount of moisture daffodil bulbs receive in the summer. When planting daffodils, don’t be afraid to go bold: use daffodils in great, dynamite clusters to provide a welcome jolt of early spring color. The more daffodils you plant, the more people will sit up and take notice. Unlike many other bulbs, daffodils are critter proof. Deer, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, and other common garden foragers will not eat them. One of the reasons for this is that the bulbs contain the alkaloid poison lycorine. The poison is extremely mild and poses no risk to humans, but some people with sensitive skin have complained of an irritant called ‘daffodil itch’ after prolonged handling. Symptoms include dryness and itchiness, but it’s extremely rare. While any gardener appreciates any flower that lessens their workload, that’s not the true appeal of the daffodil. It’s far more visceral than that. Their brilliant blooms after months of cold and grey are a cheerful herald of coming springtime, offering a farewell to winter’s bleakness and the promise of a glorious summer ahead. “Daffodils are wonderful because they are so beautiful, so carefree, and because of their ability to colonize themselves,” enthuses Hunter. “They are a great investment.” TM Photo courtesy of Niagara Parks Commission


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Articles inside

3 Gentlemen & a Tower

7min
pages 90-95

Out & About

4min
pages 112-113

Full of Bologna

4min
pages 106-107

Primary Care Niagara

3min
page 105

Radiating Spring Joy: Daffodils

2min
page 104

Maple Leaf Place

2min
pages 102-103

Two Minutes in The Box

6min
pages 97-101

Eating & Living Al Fresco

4min
pages 86-87, 89

Ways to Utilize a Small Space

4min
pages 82-84

The New Kid on the Block

2min
page 81

Light Up Your Living Space

3min
pages 78-79

Ravenshead Homes: Renovating Niagara one house at a time

3min
pages 74-75

2019 Furniture Trends

4min
pages 66-69, 71

Niagara Success Story

2min
page 63

The Woman Behind The Bench

4min
pages 60-61

Some Remarkable Women from Niagara\u2019s Past

6min
pages 54-55

The Lord Mayor of Canada\u2019s Friendliest Town

4min
pages 50-51

The Pillar of The Pen

5min
pages 48-49

Pippa & Peach

4min
pages 44-45

The Atelier Collective

5min
pages 40-43

Sunday's Best Brunch

3min
pages 30-31

In the Pink

4min
pages 24-26

Natural Wine \u2013 Qu\u2019est-ce-que c\u2019est?

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pages 21-22

On The Table

3min
pages 18-19

Camera Ready

5min
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