Few garden perennials have been as universally popular as the daffodil with its beauty and tranquillity a source of inspiration for many of the great artists and poets.
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In Charles A Heath's poem Daffodils we read the lines ...'And now here come the daffodils, the trumpeters of spring, All tooting joy, which thrills and thrills..."
A fitting tribute to these iconic flowers that awake from their winter slumber to welcome the warming days of spring.
Daffodils were introduced into gardens around 300 BC and have a fascinating history with a vast array of meanings, myths, legends and folklore surrounding them.
Cultivated for centuries in gardens daffodils were carried across Europe by the Roman soldiers which resulted in further cultivation and their eventual spread throughout the world.
In Greek mythology Narcissus the handsome, but very arrogant son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope became so obsessed with his reflection in a stream that he fell in and drowned.
From this myth it is believed the term narcissism to describe people who have a high opinion of themselves is derived.
The ancient Greeks believed the scent of Narcissus had narcotic (stupefying) properties, and from this it is thought the word narcotic sprang.
The Elizabethan herbalist Gerard retells the story of Gophodes who called the flowers 'the garland of the great infernal goddess because those that have died should be worthy enough to be crowned with the 'dulling' flowers.'
This is attributed to Persephone having a garland of daffodils in her hair when Hades kidnapped and took her to the Underworld.
In Shakespeare's day the only daffodils growing in the English countryside were the wild N. pseudonarcissus.
During the next 300 years many Narcissus species found their way into England, but it was not until the end of the 19th century that the more spectacular hybrids began to appear in English gardens.
This led to Arthur Hellyer, one of the most revered 20th century English gardening writers of his generation, to state that 'the modern Narcissus is a family of man-made miracles.'
Daffodils are the national flower of Wales and in the language of flowers represent creativity, inspiration, forgiveness and vitality.
They are often given on tenth wedding anniversaries to convey joy, cheerfulness and happiness.
The original species are native to the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean region, France, Switzerland, Canary Islands, North Africa and the British Isles.
Today there are many beautiful species that relish the climate of Tasmania including N. watieri, a recent discovery found growing in the high altitudes of the Atlas Mountains, North Africa.
This delightful miniature has exquisite pure white, single flowers with a shallow, cup-shaped centre and rush-like grey/green foliage on 16-centimetre high stems.
If you have left planting daffodil bulbs for this season too late, don't despair as in the coming months hundreds will be offered for sale as potted colour, making it a great way to purchase those that catch your eye.
Enjoy your purchase until the foliage begins to turn from green to yellow when you can either plant the contents of the pot directly into the garden or remove the bulbs and store in a cool, dark place until replanting next autumn.
DIARY
June 4: North West Lilium Society meeting, Penguin Baptist Centre, 130 Ironcliffe Road, 10am.
June 15: Launceston Horticultural Society meeting, Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, 7.30pm. Supper provided.
June 21: The Australian Plant Society meeting, Max Fry Hall, Gorge Road, Trevallyn, 7.30pm. Visitors always welcome at meetings.