With just a week to go before April, March was not bad, mostly sweet on the pulse of weather, no blizzards or severe freezes (at least here in central Virginia).
My new gardens have now reached their one-year anniversary and the daily garden review requires regular walks to see what's coming up. Poking and prodding are part and parcel of March. Thank goodness we think, winter is done.
Last March was my first visit to the Virginia Daffodil Show at Lewis Ginter Gardens where many notes were taken, orders placed. Any daffodils that were rescued from my old nursery site went to my daughter's house, so this new space was completely void of any sort of bulb. That was remedied with photographs and notes from the show and a few fall deliveries.
As the Daffodil Show was scheduled for March of this year, my oldest granddaughter decided to compete with a few stems of those that had been transplanted, she brought a total of 3 and did her homework. In the bustle of labeling, she was expecting to exhibit in the youth division, she was placed in the adult category, which can only mean stiff competition. We were told that it was a good year (dates and weather), and over 1800 stems were entered for judging. There were 2 large rooms full of cut daffodils, it was incredible!
We all arrived for the show to learn that she placed second in her division with another Honorable Mention. The second place was for Daffodil 'Lemon Glow' (my favorite) and honorable with D. 'Delnashaugh', a fragrant double pink and white bloom. She was the day's daffodil rock star with no previous experience!
and her entry looking back at her
Of course, more notes and photographs were taken. There was interest in the orange petal with orange trumpet (like last year), but also the dwarf varieties that fit into nooks and crannies of March but also clean-up well. Here follow some of our favorites, just scroll over the photograph to reveal the name:
This little 'Itsy Bitsy Splitsy' is a seedling of the above - 'Equation'
It's been decided that we will both compete next year and a first for me to try my hand at daffodils on the competition stage. And it takes a few since the date might mean early or late daffodils, depending on the season. Hopefully it will be another sweet March.
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