Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Daffodils and Spring Flowers



Did you know that daffodils originally came from the countries around the Mediterranean?  These little jewels of spring were first mentioned two or three hundred years before Christ. Even though they were grown by the Greeks and Romans they were basically forgotten until the 1629 when a group of Englishmen took the flower out of the weed category and put them in the garden!  Thanks to them the daffodil is now our hope of Spring.  Do you plant these little jewels in your garden?  I hope you do as they are easy and are not bothered by most garden pests.  Even voles don't like them!  As well as squirrels that seem to love to dig up everything else, leave them alone.  I started growing my daffodils when our children were young in elementary school.  For annual fund raising, they always sold these little bulbs to raise money for their school.  These little bulbs have multiplied and given us much pleasure.  


As I began to garden more, I planted other varieties of daffodils.





No matter the variety of daffodil, they always say Spring to me! 

The garden is waking up now, even with the crazy twists and turns of the fickle Spring.  


Veronica Speedwell is trailing across the garden bed.


Bleeding Heart is beginning to bloom it's tiny hearts.


Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are popping up.


Hosta are growing by the inch on warm days.


The pansies are still happy that we have cooler temperatures.


My Grandmother's lilacs are blooming!  This makes me so happy to see them blooming in my garden.  Do you have any plants that belonged to your family or special friend?  I have many and always remember them when I'm in my garden.

"Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." 
Hans Christian Andersen


Yes, Spring is finally here in Virginia in our little corner that we call home.  I hope she visits you soon, my friends! ♥





34 comments:

  1. Why, Martha Ellen ~ I can't even begin to think of a daffodil as a weed! What is more lifting to the spirits than a clump, or a large display, of daffodils after the long months of winter? Weeds, never!

    I shall now have to go find out more, for Welsh, or Tenby daffodils are such a part of our history, our national flower of Wales, I can't imagine they originated from the Mediterranean! Always learning, always something new!

    ~~~Waving~~~From Across the Pond~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered." Ralph Waldo Emerson It's exactly how I feel about a lot of so called weeds, Deb. I read recently that the Welsh daffodil was chosen over the leek in the 19th century! It's a good thing we never get too old to learn new things! ♥

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  2. My hosta are still just shoots up this way! I dug up a Lantana seedling from my grandmother's garden in 1994 and brought it in every winter until it started getting too large. I finally let it go because it always looked terrible by the time Spring came and never fully recovered. I still have several Lavender plants a neighbor gave me 20 years ago. She's gone now so they are a nice remembrance of her. And SOMETHING moves my daffodils about. I find them in new places every few years!

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    1. Cathy, our hosta really started to bolt this past weekend when we had 85 degrees. Maybe you can plant a new lantana that will still be a remembrance of your grandmother. I love how certain flowers bring to mind certain special people in my life.
      I do think moles move my daffodils or maybe it is the squirrels. Just so they don't eat them, I'm happy! ♥

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  3. Wow! Spring seems to have arrived there in fine form. (I do question that “fickle” description. Mine is much more foul. ☺️) How wonderful to have some of your grandmother’s lilacs blooming in your garden.

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    1. Vee, I know Spring comes much later for you. Fickle Spring is indeed what we've had--from snow in April to 85 degree days to near frost conditions all within a couple weeks. Our daughter, up your way, told us of the ice storm on Sunday. I hope for you and her that Spring is not far off. ♥

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  4. Spring is in full force here and so beautiful but I'm glad we haven't planted our veg garden yet as it was below freezing again this morning. But in the 80s tomorrow. Crazy! I've never seen a pink daffodil before. They are truly so cheerful and yes, the first of spring, even if there's snow. There aren't many lilacs down here but that's my favorite! I had a little bush of my own when I was a child. Nothing quite like that scent and the beauty of the lavender/purple color against the green. Enjoy your garden as it springs forth to life and beauty!

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    1. I'm so glad you are enjoying a lovely Spring, Dotsie. The weather has been quite fickle for most of us this Spring. I really wish the temperatures weren't so hot and then near freezing! Lilacs really need a cold winter to bloom. I do believe this might be the best mine have done in years. I picked a bouquet for the dining room and you are right, they smell amazing! ♥

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  5. Love the little history of beautiful daffodil..

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    1. Thank you, Krishna. It's always fun for me to learn more about flowers. Happy Spring! ♥

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  6. I enjoyed your daffodils.. I will be posting some of my new varieties tomorrow. And your lilac is open! Mine aren't quite yet but I absolutely adore the aroma of them in big bouquets on my dining room table. I have a dark purple lilac given to me by a friend which I enjoy. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Teresa, I look forward to seeing your daffodils. I love all the varieties and hope to plant more in my garden. There is no other fragrance quite like the lilac, is there? Have a happy day! ♥

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  7. A joy to visit and discover a little more about the beautiful daffodil. I enjoyed the little tour around your garden.

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    1. My flowers were happy to see you! I hope your day is full of joy. ♥

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  8. What a delightful post... I’m so partial to the daffadowndilly and grape hyacinth... infact all spring flowers take me bak to the joy of childhood.. when I used to watch my father and the neighbours garden... that is where the love of gardening comes from. I have not seen the veronica speedwell before so that is one which I will research as I’m always looking for a ground cover. Don’t you just love those little pansy faces( ha ha) They always make me smile... and of course what is a garden without a ‘ bleeding heart “... oh such happy memories... How lovely that your mother’s lilac is blooming, It’s truly a glad harbinger of Spring in Virginia...Thank You for sharing the Springtime Joy , my Friend... Have a lovely day ...Hugs

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    1. Love that you mentioned daffadowndilly, Zaa. Such a sweet little rhyme... Should have mentioned it in this post. You have such happy memories of gardening and I'm sure you want to get out there! I do hope you can plant speedwell in your garden as it is a wonderful ground cover. It marches happily around my perennial bed and never fails to bloom. Have a happy day! ♥

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  9. I am so envious that you have all these spring flowers already! I won't see flowers on my lilacs until late May. Interesting information about the daffodils. I do love that they aren't bothered by the voles or deer. I need to plant more of them because each year more and more of my tulips disappear. I know we'll be rid of this snow soon and spring will move in with speed (can't wait)!

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    1. Liz, I can't imagine your long wait for Spring! In the meantime, I'm sure you are planning and dreaming. This fall I'm going to plant tulips again---I only have two in bloom! This time I'm going to plant them where the voles don't have a chance at getting to them! Have a lovely day. ♥

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  10. At The Farmhouse, we had several plants that were given to us by friends and family over the 35 years that we lived there. Here at Pineapple House, although there are plenty of lovely things, we don't know the history. Perhaps as time passes, we'll gather a few things from our loved ones to add to what is here.

    Your daffodils are beautiful! They are such cheerful flowers! I think it is wonderful that you have collected different varieties. I love the bleeding heart (does it survive the winter in its pot?) and the grape hyacinth too. So many pretties in your garden!

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    1. Cheryl, it must be exciting to see things in the Pineapple House garden and wonder its history. I'm sure you will add your special touches as you continue to look to the outside.
      Bleeding heart is a perennial that is planted in the ground and happily returns each year. I can't remember how long it's been coming back, but I do believe for over 20 years. Sending you thoughts of Spring, my friend. ♥

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  11. BEAUTIFUL pics....spring is springing up all around you I see. Love the Bleeding Hearts. They are just so different, I love the blooms on it. Nice.

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    1. Pam, Spring has come in all of her glory! The dogwoods and the azaleas are almost at their peak. Even though we have had freeze warnings they are okay so far. Have a wonderful weekend! ♥

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  12. These are interesting facts about the Daffodil. I've always liked this flower, and yellow is the prettiest to me. I didn't realize they went back that far in history. Your Grandmother's lilacs are beautiful, and I can smell them from here. I love the Pansies as well, and just saw a bunch of them planted at my church. Your garden is looking wonderful, Martha Ellen. I'm glad Spring has arrived around your neck of the woods. : )

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, Spring has certainly made it here, my friend! It's still chilly, but that just helps the flowers to stay in bloom longer. Grayden loves pansies, so I always plant them around the mailbox. I bet they look cheerful at your church garden. I hope you are doing well and enjoying Spring! ♥

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  13. Veronica Speedwell, so that is the name of this pretty ground cover. I have some growing that has been here for a long time and didn't know the name. Love all of your daffy's especially the mauve color one. Certainly does look like spring has sprung in your garden and I bet the lilac scents it so sweetly in the evening. Love those purple lilacs.
    betsy

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    1. Betsy, Veronica Speedwell loves my perennial bed. Every Spring she marches along blooming and telling me Spring is here. It's fun to plant different daffodils as voles don't eat them! We have a time with them here! I hope your weekend is enjoyable. ♥

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  14. So pleased that you are enjoying the Spring season.
    So lovely to see all of your gorgeous blooms and yes, no matter the variety of daffodil, they do always say Spring !

    Have a wonderful weekend and a good new week to come.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan, it's so lovely when Spring arrives after winter. She sure took her sweet time coming this year!
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend. ♥

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  15. ...sunshine, freedom and a little flower! AMEN! And what beautiful Spring blooms you have. I always loved picking a bouquet of Daffodils early. And it's special having bushes and flowers that have been passed on from precious relatives. Enjoy your Sunday my friend!

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    1. Diane, enjoy your day as well. We are really at the peak of Spring here. The dogwoods are lighting up our windows with their bloom! ♥

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  16. I love to see your Grandmother's lilacs! No weh haven't family plants in our garden. But I have a spider plant in house :-)

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    1. Thank you for visiting, Aritha. My daughter has many spider plants in her home as they multiply quite rapidly. Have a nice week. ♥

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  17. I just love seeing all of your sunny daffodils, Martha Ellen! They are even more beautiful because they hold such dear memories of your children growing up. You have so many glorious colors in bloom already! It seems like we are about three weeks behind you in bloom times this year. I have several plants from my mom's garden at our childhood home. They become more precious with each passing year. I also have a Friendship Garden bed filled with plants from the gardens of friends. I think of each loved one as I tend the garden! Wishing you sunny days in your garden, my friend! 💗

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    1. Dawn, I'm so excited for you that all of Spring awaits you! We are really peaking now. Isn't it wonderful to have plants from friends and family? They are reminders of those loved ones that loved and cared for gardening and for us! Sending you sunshine and happy days. ♥

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