It would seem and one would hope that spring has finally come out of hibernation and blessed us with warm sunny days.{{more}} And how do we know that? Well those most popular of all spring flowers , the daffodil is blooming everywhere. It is truly heartwarming to see a swath of yellow and white flowers blossoming in gardens and even along roadways. Their popularity is well deserved – they multiply, have poisonous bulbs, therefore the deer won’t eat them and there are numerous varieties from which to choose.
After the daffodils have finished blooming, allow the plants to grow until they die off. They need time to store energy in the bulbs for next year . The unsightly leaves can be camouflaged by hiding them behind some newly planted annuals or by tying them in bunches with rubber bands and laying them flat. Allow leaves to remain for at least six weeks. At this point you can even sprinkle some bonemeal around the plants to encourage future growth.
In her latest book, FLOWERS, life style maven and decorator, Carolyne Roehme notes, “If you read about flower arranging, you’ll find injunctions against mixing daffodils with other kinds of flowers, since an unwelcome sap drips from the stem when you cut them. My trick is to dip the ends in hot water for a bit; I’ve made beautiful arrangements with daffodils and lily of the valley.” I think that’s a great way to enjoy a bit of spring in your home.
Gardeners sometimes hesitate to cut their colorful flowers for fear of leaving bare spots. One solution to this dilemma is to plant a cutting garden. Simply choose a spot, perhaps beside a garage or at the back of the yard. Just be sure it gets sun and has lots of good soil. Plant a mix of perennials and annuals, which will give you a good variety for cutting. The more color, heights and textures you grow, the more fun you can have creating indoor arrangements. Most garden flowers do best when they are placed in tepid water directly after they are cut. Gathering flowers from your own garden to create a beautiful arrangement is truly “a good thing” as Martha would say.
Daffodils,
That come before the swallows dares and take
The winds of March with beauty
William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale
Marion Rizzo is president of The Garden Club of Orange.