Plant of the Month-March 08

For March's Plant of the Month, I have chosen the Narcissus, aka Daffodil, and if you are from around here, aka the 'Buttercup'. This plant is a real wonder, though so much of a wonder I think I sometimes I take it for granted. It comes back each and every year, blooms readily in rain, sleet, or sunshine, and asks very little in return of the gardener. It also multiplies and naturalizes so readily I have to divide mine each year.

And every single year just when I think I have placed all of the daffys exactly where I want them, I still HAVE to do it again the next year! Surely I must be doing something wrong? But no, it is okay. I mean who am I to complain about all of the dividing and free plants? Love the free plants.

The second picture was sent to me by anonymous. She and her young son walk to this front yard each day and they so enjoy these daffodils! Happy Birthday to the sidekick!

There are tons of daffodils here. Can you imagine the gardener taking the time to plant one every foot or so for such a long distance?

I grow about a dozen varieties. Some bloom early (Tete e tete-the third picture and one of my favorites!), some bloom a little later (not sure of the varieties as I do an awful job of keeping up with them), and some bloom late (Salome). I like them all. As a bonus, deer and rodents don't like them so all the better.

I had an awful hard time deciding between the daffys and the hellebores. The daffys won out as Plant of the Month for two reasons. The first being that I had chosen hellebores for last month's Plant of the Month; the second being that there are so many daffys and they truly do show us in a big way that spring is here. The first picture shows some of my daffys with the hellebores. I just love the combination of the yellows and whites, then throw in the pinkish rose of the hellebore and you got a picture!

Daffodils are very easy to grow. I plant mine about 4-6 inches deep along with some bulb booster at planting. They can tolerate very wet soil, as well as dry soil. They do well in our clay soils here. Be sure to leave ALL of the foliage until it has completely yellowed. I do have one area I have hundreds of daffys (Ice Follies mostly) in a lawn area which has naturalized. I don't particularly like this planting method though because I can't mow the grass until late May in that area. I feel it is worth it though. The majority of my daffys are growing in cultivated gardens. This is to allow the foliage to remain unhindered by lawn mowing. You should not braid the foliage, as this could interfere with photosynthesis and the storing of food for next year's flowers.

Sometimes daffys fail to bloom. I find this to be due to one of two reasons. Either the bulb was shocked the year prior and did not have enough time store energy for the flower, or the bulb is not planted deep enough. To solve the first problem-wait another year! To solve the second, dig and replant.

Finally, I have not posted the Jimster in quite a long time and in honor of our last Golden Hugg puppy leaving, here he is with Baby! This picture is the Jimster's final goodbye to Baby. Baby was truly the Jimster's puppy and he will miss her. We know she is going to a good home and wish all the pups and Golden Huggs lots of good fortune. We did enjoy the experience of having puppies-for a short while.

in the garden....working hard!