Daffodil book for Deep South, Coastal South and Florida

Hi, I just added a fantastic hardcover drool book to the Bookworm, if you live in this hot and sticky part of the world are at all interested in species daffodils, heirloom daffodils, daffodil history, what daffodils thrive in this area, or just need another gorgeous book with 150 color photos of daffodils, you need to check this one out! It's not on Amazon but is available directly from the Florida Daffodil Society http://www.fladaff.com/

Extremely informative and fun to read! This book is obviously the result of years of passionate research, and definitely a work of love. I am an avid reader as well as a plant freak, so I was absolutely amazed that I hadn't heard of it before. Since now is the time that a lot of us are shopping for bulbs, I thought I should get the word out....

plantnutga

Daffodils are one of my favorite flowers. (Maybe I am a little influenced by Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud.") I just always assumed daffodils and Florida were incompatible. Thanks for pointing out this resource.

You are very welcome! I'm a big fan, too. Childhood memories. What surprised me was that apparantly FL even had daffodil farms at one time. I had thought that all but paperwhites were out of my range in S. Georgia, too.

plantnutga

The best bulb books for the south are 'Bulbs for warm climates' by Thad Howard (the definitive Bible for bulbs in the south) and Scott Ogden's book 'Garden Bulbs for the South'. These are the two books the nursery trades use in these parts and are redefining the nursery industry in the South.. These two guys have single handedly identified and put back into the trades ALL the bulbs worth growing in the south and are very quick to let you know which ones aren't worth your money or time.

I agree with those two books you mentioned. I keep checking out Scott Ogden's book from the library, it's one of the best resources I've found and on my wish list to buy.

Check out Howard's--his is even better! =)
He is a wonderful person too.

Cool! I already have Scott's book. I'll have to add Howard's. Thank you so much for the info! I love adding a resource, especially one written by a likeable person.

My excitement for the Daffodil book is partly because it is based mostly on gardens planted 30 minutes from me. Our microclimate is pretty weird, not to mention the soil. (The Red Clay Hills of Thomasville are a strange little area that grows native plants only found in the Sand Hills of Florida, yet they are still clay underneath, which creates other problems, plus no one seems to be able to decide if we are 8b or 9a)

Also the Daffodil book is purely about daffodils, which are a childhood favorite.

I love Scotts book because I am definitely not a pureist. I love all bulbs! The book has been EXTEMELY helpful. Still, it is frustrating to me to see bulbs listed that do well in "the South" that frankly suck here in Southeast Georgia. We are acid as upposed to the alkaline soil in many parts of Texas.

I REALLY appreciate the reference to Howard's book and just ordered it from Amazon....

plantnutga

East Texas is acidic too. You are thinking west Texas. We are really more like Florida and the rest of the Gulf South than we are like west Texas. I sure would love to get my hands on some of the native seeds in your area if you are ever out collecting. I will gladly send SASBE for them (shameless begger that I am--lol). =)

some of the daffy's that do well for me here are the 'hoop' types--all of them but esp Narcissus bulbocodium (a very reliable naturalizer here) also butter and eggs (Narcissus x incomparibilis) and Texas Star (Narcissus x intermedius).

I'm starting to get excited about spring, how 'bout ya'll? =)

Great Thread!
Debbie

This message was edited Sep 15, 2006 7:22 PM

Debbie

I can hardly wait for spring! Summer has been so #$(*& hot.....

I found out a lot about our natives when my LH and I bought a 10 acre tract of land, planning to build. I fell completely in love with the land and all of the wonderful plants. I researched and fell even more deeply in love. However, we came to the decision that it was not wise for us to build, either financially, psychologically, or maritally. LOL

So we sold the land and kept the home that we had purchased as an "interim" home. We've been renovating and landscaping like crazy.

During the time we were planning to build I was commuting over an hour into the Panhandle of Florida. Between the research and what I saw driving I was amazed by what an odd and unique ecosystem we are in!

I'll keep you in mind next time I'm collecting seeds out of a ditch. You're not the only shameless beggar out there, I haven't felt shame for that in a long time!

(Will Work For Seeds?) LOL

:)

Erin

I like that--will weed for seeds sounds good too, no? lol