Daffodils in Your Garden 
“A mist oer the blue sky, 
With a falling of rain, 
That gleams like spun silver 
And it’s April again. 
With Daffodil sunshine 
And Daffodil flowers, 
Then time becomes golden 
Between sudden showers. 
With gold and the silver 
Of sun and the rain, 
Rejoice that you're living, 
When it’s April again.” 
—LYMAN 
The poetry of the Daffodil is one thing; its attainment another. Between these two lies some study, much planning 
and a healthful modicum of garden work. First note down all the things that can contribute to the setting of the 
Dafhes. Cherry trees are usually in bloom then, so are some of the Apples and the misty pink of the Shadbush. 
The grass is beginning to grow lush in the meadows. In the border most of the perennial foliage is clumped out 
and showing its definite characteristics. There is color underfoot—the purple of Aubrietia, the snowy white clouds 
of Arabis, the varying pinks and whites of Phlox subulata, the blue haze of Mertensia virginica, Myosotis and the 
color range we find in Pansies and Violas. Columbines should be showing buds and the Bleeding Hearts beginning 
to hang their pink and white breeches on the wash-line of their stems. Such are a few of the colorful elements that 
keep company with the Daffodils. These must be taken into account when one visualizes the uses of Narcissi. 
For those who are just beginning, let us set down some of these uses: 
PERENNIAL BORDER. The perennial border is a natural to a shoal of, say, Whitewell, then beyond that, in the 
choice, for there Narcissi can be combined with other dimmer reaches the paler kinds, the Leedsii and the In- 
plants flowering at the time, to make a color picture. The comparabilis which prefer partial shade. 
bers that lanted will d d on the size of th 
Techs c cpl de. ey Oe Lo Si ee aga MEADOW OR ORCHARD. But the greatest and most 
borders and the amount of space available for them. If . Baus t : 
one has only a small garden and is very discerning in the effective use of Daffodils is to naturalize them in quan- 
choice of the flowers that go into it, let us suggest that tity in meadows and orchards. Here indeed do the stars 
she select some of the lesser used kinds, especially those come down and the Milky Way spreads its infinite glory. 
in the Leedsii group that have a pure white beauty. As Here we can have those hosts of golden Daffodils that 
second choice, some of the medium-crowned Incom- the poet speaks about, the great seas of them spilling 
parabilis and lively Barrii sections. A few of each kind down the slopes and jostling one another in their abun- 
would make an effective group. dant beauty. A slope on which rheumatically old apple 
ROGIGGARDENS Fon the rock sarden th Pit: trees lean against the wind, or white birches stand like 
Oi etodilachich' Ri se Wer DUNT od lintic ox unsheathed swords, is an ideal place for naturalizing 
the Hoop Petticoat Narcissi, Triandrus and Cyclamen them 2 And pies pepe NS aa en pa ine 
ee ee eehilderimnine in the wind with its hair varieties need not be kept separate. On the other hand, 
es =a Tage the best effects are obtained when the general types ar 
blowing is the Narcissi cyclamineus—its six little petals . . Bpceny ties Be ebacey et Nie os 
fly back, bearing a miniature trumpet. These also can be Shel) ECG ive ae Loupe! in their own 
naturalized in sheltered corners. Soo ee domeen  Ubpeeu) tice: 
The best season for planting is from the second week in 
AT THE POOL — ALONG THE BROOK. Beside pools September on into Ociabes, Fy the Narcissus makes a root 
and brooks there is often - chance to Oe! drift of growth before it settles down for its winter rest. The 
Daffodils. Here the Poeticus type will thrive. Ornatus depth to plant bulbs depends on their size. Big bulbs 
and the old Pheasant s Eye, Recurvus, with some of the such as King Alfred can go down six inches and the 
newer varieties and perhaps a scattering of a yellow 
; i lesser four. In light soils deeper planting is advisable, 
Trumpet variety would make a poolside or a brook- and in heavy, a shallower. The degree of light and 
edge planting not soon to be forgotten. shade to which they are exposed should also be taken 
BETWEEN THE SHRUBBERY. In many an informal into account. All of them thrive in sunshine, but the 
shrubbery planting there are open areas between the lighter kinds, Leedsii especially, seem grateful for a bit 
bushes into which many forms of Narcissi could go of shade. 
and produce an unusual effect. Shoals of Emperor and By planting the earliest varieties on the south side and 
King Alfred, Sir Watkin of the orange eye and the the latest varieties facing north, a long period of flower- 
glowing red cup of Bernardino—such types might ing, lasting well over a month, may be enjoyed. 
shine through the undergrowth of Lilacs and the foun- Daffodils are the most prolific of flowers. If you plant 
tain-like sprays of Bush Honeysuckle. The same plant- a single bulb, it will not be long in gathering a family, 
ing could be used for the woodlot where drifts of Daf- and in the course of two or three years, the spot in which 
fodils spread at intervals along the woodland path. The _it grows will have become as populous as the tents of 
varieties should be kept distinct, so that one comes first the patriarchs. 
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