Daffodils are here and they were worth the (long!) wait.

The grand view through the Bosquet is really stunning right now. In this big beautiful sea of daffodils there are numerous varieties. Over the past few years, we have been making an attempt at identifying as many Narcissus cultivars as we can during the brief weeks the blooms are with us. What follows is just a sampling of our 40+ varieties here at Blithewold. If you are interested in learning more about daffodils, click here for Gail’s Daffodil Fact Sheet.

I really enjoy the succession of blooms during spring here at Blithewold. The sweet bulbs from last month are now past their prime, but the daffodils have taken over in force. It’s almost hard to notice anything else! But the tulips know that their time is coming. Many of our tulips are up and beginning to show color. This recent spate of warmer weather is beckoning them all to open. I’m eager to see the show, but I don’t want to rush it. Every flower has its time.

Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’ with tulips in the North Garden.

Tulips beginning to arise from a small sea of grape hyacinths (Muscari).

Trees also have their time of great beauty. The autumn flowering cherry trees (Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’) in the Rose Garden are more floriferous than ever this year. The name is slightly misleading since they are actually a spring blooming tree, but they have a second, less robust, bloom in fall that has earned them the moniker “autumn flowering.” Whatever they are called, they are worth seeing right now. A glorious show of pink!

Autumn flowering cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’)

Visitors enjoying the cherry blossoms.

The Weeping Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendula’) is unfurling its sweet, pink-tinged leaves this week like a flock of birds taking flight.  The Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) and Sweet Breath of Spring (Lonicera fragrantissima) are still in bloom and looking lovely as ever. The Cut Leaf European Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Laciniata’) on the front lawn is hiding beneath its branches a beautiful sea of blue Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica).

The Weeping Higan Cherry on the Front Lawn is full of magenta buds just waiting to open. The color is one of my favorites! I love how each node releases a grouping of four flowers together, like a sweet tiny bouquet. Plants are cool.

The hyacinths in the North Garden have been blooming for weeks now. The color variation on each of the individual flowers is captivating. I hope you stoop down to see them up close!

Anemone ‘Mr. Fokker’

This anemone is biding its time in our holding area until its turn to shine in one of our display containers.

There truly are new discoveries around every corner here. Come explore Blithewold this spring and recharge your sense of wonder.