First Daffodils 2010

Can't hardly believe it. Still have snow banks, but where it is gone I have daffs up 3" since yesterday.
Its 60 here now and sunny for the first time in 5 days.

Maxine

They're sensing the warmer weather and the lengthening of days.

yep, yep, yep. Houston and surrounding area are hot and humid. Gulf breezes are supposed to keep us from hitting 100s in summer, but it doesn't work very well, we still roast.

Here is Thalia, what a good performer this has been for me.

here is Katie Heath, a favorite at B&B. However, it's not really thriving as compared to other cultivars. I hope it does get stronger over time, it is one of the few w/ pink cup that supposedly performs well in a southern garden.

Steve, my Erlicheers didn't do too well this spring, either. wonder why. Group shot.

Howdy Nery - love the "Thalia" - that is one I do not have and keep saying I'll get. For REAL I will, next year!

Jon, that is cool....you just lived there part of the year? Wow must have been nice. I will say that summers there are wonderful!!

Here is the back yard; just took this a few minutes ago. You can see my "Erlicheers" in the foreground.

Yes, just part of the year, but was there at all different times throughout the year. Summer is nice there. Was always a bit strange to have daylight until 10-11 in the evening at the beginning of summer. Liked early spring because you could huge bouquets of cut flowers for practically nothing. Remember 100 fresh cut tulips would cost around $12.00. I don't think most people are aware of just how many flowers are developed/produced in The Netherlands. It's not just tulips.

Love the daffodil shots. Makes me want to try/experiment with more next fall/winter.

Oh Nery, not those...the ones in front....I didn't take a picture of THEM! LOL

Steve

thanks so much for the bio.... wow living there I guess I would be into bulbs as well...LOL

I love your backyard, to have one with that privacy fence would be so wonderful.... I've got collies and they wouldn't have an excuse to bark if I had your back yard.

Since your beds in the back are so large will you put stepping stones in them in order to not step on your beds when working on them?

Janet

That is a great idea, Janet - thanks! You are right I need something. I make these 20' or 25' circular beds and then figure out after the fact how I'll weed after everything's in the ground! And thank you so much for the nice words.

Nery, here are some of the ratty ones - I have four or five groupings like this. All the the ones planted prior to last year seemed to come up earlier when the 12 F weather hit...burned the leaves. They still seem to be blooming though.

Steve, thanks for that pic. I had that situation happen to me on a group in early Feb. The leaves looked just like yours and I got no blooms. Prior to the "zapping" I had buds, but after the freeze, nothing. Your pic has helped me figure out what happened.

My two little adopted children - Susie (left) and Digger (right). Got these from someone through a so-called "rescue" group that was going to euthanize them (can you believe that??). Both had significant health problems, weren't house trained, had worms, underweight, not neutered, etc. Digger had to have 17 teeth pulled. Several $$$$ and several months later I am glad to say they are healthy and happy and have not gone to the bathroom in the house in almost two months.

Aren't they cute?? LOL they help me in the garden.

Steve, your bulbs are looking wonderful. I love that big, wide flowerbed.

Nancy

Thanks Nancy - but I think you outdid me with your "Bridal Crown" LOL

Steve , your children are cute as a button! They were very lucky to be adopted by you. They will have tons of fun playing in your beautiful garden!

Steve, I always knew that you were a cosmopolitan individual. And, oh, how fabulous that you saved your babies.

Voss, is Katie Heath a triandrus? I thought they did well in warmer climates. I can't grow them. I've lost Silk Shot, Thalia, and Tresamble (described as an improved Thalia) and I got them all from OHG. I suspect that the problem is that labeling them zone 5a is pushing it. Thalia only came up for a couple of years.

Mrs. Backhouse and Mount Hood were champs, and I also got them from Scott. So I think it's the type. I hear from other people that Thalia is either bullet proof or a disaster. The two extremes. Interesting.

Steve

just another reason to like ya.... I love folks who rescue animals, two great companions for sure you have there.

thanks for sharing their picture.

I'm currently owned by 4 collies.

Janet

And by the way, you 46 year olds are just kids.

donnamack, yes, thalia is a triandus. I have not studied daffs in depth, so don't know what that means. I am crossing my fingers tight for more Katie Keath to come out and play. they're so beautiful.

Really, I think that zone is a problem. When I said bulletproof ot a problem (please forgive me if I expressed myself poorly) I think that it's bulletproof for you. I have seen Thalia listed as zone 4, 5b and 6. I think the problem is that I am in 5a, and that some providers are unaware that it is a problem. If I were a betting peson I would put money that yours will perform really well.

Lucky you - I wanted to purchase Katie Heath. I think it's gorgeous.

Thalias grow really well here - spreads very easily. But, I still don't care for the smell that much - but it is definitely better smelling than the jonquils.

Aw, Steve, your "kids" are adorable! Pets are wonderful--they really seem to appreciate all you do for them, and just shower you with love in return. I've got a little beagle, given to me by a friend, and a cat that was a rescue, and don't know what I'd do without them! The dog is by my side every waking moment I'm home, inside and out, and the cat is on top of me while I sleep, more often than not. :) Not on the computer with pictures at the moment, but will have to post pics of my "fur-kids" some time.

More on-topic, I do love my thalias, though I'm only on my second year with them. I sure hope they come back in force. I had a nice showing last year, and people kept asking me what the white ones were. They were really striking with an underplanting of muscarii. The intense blue was just the right thing to set off the white!

I had one lonely little daffodil blooming today. ^_^ Lots of fat buds on the others, though, so it won't be long before his playmates come out. We're supposed to get up into the 60's later in the week, so I'm anticipating some color!

Angie

Narcissus Fortissimo

Certainly lives up to its name as big and strong and bold. Planted it at the back of my new hyacinth bed and they do make a good backdrop--at about 20 inches they tower over the hyacinths.

My first year of growing it, but it was recommended by Cornell bulb studies as a perennializer in Mediterranean climates.

Beautiful..... chris

one of our club members is also President of their daffodil society and they now have over 400. All of theirs are in raised beds behind electric fence as the deer travel through their property all the time...

I'm going out this weekend (provided the weather stays good and will be taking some pictures. will post if any are good pics.

Janet

Thanks Angie, Janet :-) It is good to know you two are animal lovers as well. I am a sucker for a sweet little animal and could not say no when offered these two. I am glad I did though there were some trying times They seem so much healthier and happier now, with brighter spirits. I may have to travel some for work later this summer/fall and will have to find some pet-friendly hotels out there as if I'm driving I will probably bring them with me.

Funny thing is I like the dogs better than most of the people I meet ;-) Present company excluded of course, as DG houses a special breed. Had the opportunity to meet Donna and Angie in person and both are absolutely terrific people, as are Tracey (Magnolia) and Diann (Ticker). And Nery, we still need to meet up one of these days! We have another avid Texas gardener (NLaw - Nancy) who also is into bulbs like we are.

Fortissimo is an awesome daffodil, Chris. Monal is another terrific one that is really bright and showy. I love the orange-cupped ones.

Steve those dogs look beautiful. My daughters both loved the story of your sweet rescue of them. They look like they are so happy now. You've done great work.

I look here every day awaiting your blooming yards. It makes me think my blooming season isn't quite as far off. Thanks for the pretties. Daffs are so easy to love, their colors and deer resistance make them irresistable. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Tracey! I just don't see you on here so much these days - I need to get over to cubits myself but i just really like it here on DG and find it really easy. don't worry; your turn at spring will come soon enough and in the heat of summer you'll still be going strong when we are hot, dry and finished.

Some hyacinths......this eve. after work.

Here are some heirloom daffs I got from OHG a few years back - Butter and eggs maybe? I might be wrong.

Narcissus Martinette - an awesome Tazetta that seems unfazed by our cold (top) and Popeye just starting to open (bottom), one of my favorites

Quails are blooming nicely this year.

Closeup of "Popeye"

More daffodils today.

Front bed today

outstanding!

Oh Steve, so gorgeous! Please keep themcoming.

Steve, those are wonderful beds! Nothing is a more welcome sight than bright yellow and white daffodils, -- even better with the bright blue hyacinths mixed in. It must smell so good too.
Nancy

Wonderful!

I am definitely going to have to consider digging up some lawn to plant more daffodils. What a wonderful spring show you have, Steve.

Narcissus Golden Dawn

I happened to walk by the end of our property, outside the fence, today and found this nice surprise. I shouldn't have been surprised since I planted these back in Dec, but I totally forgot about them. They are on a small hill where another old road goes up to our neighbors. It is very neglected and weedy as you can see, but I had some bulbs left over from my planting projects and decided that Narcissus should be able to survive there on just rainfall. I also had some left over tulips that are planted in front--still only leaves. I am even more surprised that the tulips have not been gobbled up as that hill is infested with burrowing critters of some sort. I hope I get to see them bloom at least once before they become gopher food.

Narcissus Golden Dawn---a tazetta crossed with a jonquil. Supposed to bloom twice --early in Feb and then again in early Apr. I think this must be the late bloom and that I just entirely missed the early bloom since I never drive by that corner. Bill Welch says this is a great one for overplanting with annuals or in a mixed bed with perennials since it can tolerate summer watering.