During the least colorful part of the year , after the Christmas lighting are stashed off and before leaping flowers blossom , we console ourselves by look at seminal fluid catalogs or a nice blog mail about the flush to fall . I ’ve take heed that hoi polloi are seeing Narcissus pseudonarcissus sprout around townsfolk , which is exciting . No blooms yet , at least where I am , but the Narcissus pseudonarcissus ( and spring ) will be here soon!Photograph by Flickr userGail Johnson .
Narcissus pseudonarcissus , Narcissus , jonquils , March blooms , these terms all refer to the flower that comes back every spring on roadsides , hills , and flower gardens over a large part of the Northern Hemisphere . They are a part of theAmaryllisfamily , and many case grow wild .
agree to theAmerican Daffodil Association , there are13 different class of daffodils , each with a different look . They come in all sizes , chassis , and colors , which serious growers raise for competition , and casual gardener try out for something unexampled and dissimilar . Photograph by Flickr usercode poet .
The blossom Narcissus was list for the Grecian god who fell in love with his own reflection . The chime of the flower lean downward , like someone gazing at his reflection in the water . But the word also resembles the Greek wordnarke , or narcotic . Daffodils are toxic , especially the bulb . The main poison islycorine , although other toxins are present in smaller amount . picture by Flickr userSteve - h.
In 2009 , scholar at Gorseland Primary School in Suffolk , England were poisoned when a preparation project went wrong . The scholar were using ingredients from the school ’s garden , and a Narcissus pseudonarcissus bulb was false for an onion . Twelve youngster were take to the infirmary , but quick intervention saved them from lasting harm . This was only the most widely publicize ofmany example of poisoningresulting from misidentify a Narcissus pseudonarcissus bulb for an onion plant . Always sniff for the onion smell when using garden onions . Photograph by Flickr usernociveglia .
The flower also hold calcium oxalate in its sap , which can cause"Daffodil scratch . “The sickness is mostly limited to florist shop who handle a destiny of daffodils . pic by Flickr userEmma Williams .
In England , daffodils are sometimes referred to as Lent Lilies . A poem by A. E. Housemantells how the Narcissus pseudonarcissus bloom at the commencement of Lent and is gone by Easter . It says , in part :
Above you see a manor in East Sussex surround by a sea of daffodil last spring . photo by Flickr userSebastian Anthony .
Anold tarradiddle from Chinalinks the Narcissus pseudonarcissus with prosperity . A farmer get out land to two sons , but one grabbed the Leo the Lion ’s share , go away the other with only an acre of rock -but there was water on that acre . A nance granted him some narcissus bulbs , which develop and instill hoi polloi so much they bought them and made him a wealthy man . His prehensile and overjealous brother also implant narcissus bulb , but they did not grow because his state , though huge , had no water supplying . Even today , the legend goes , if a daffodil bloomsby the date of the Chinese New Year , it is a symbol of adept fortune and prosperity for the coming year . In northern latitudes , this intend growing them indoors and force the blooms . Photograph by Flickr userabac077 .
In the USA , daffodils bloom all over , starting in the South and working their way north throughout the spring . Camden , Arkansashas a Daffodil Festival early , on March 9th and tenth this year . The Daffodil Festival inPuyallup , Washingtonis celebrate its 79th year this spring with a series of parade in April . Shown here is one of the parades from 2006.Meriden , Connecticut , holds their Daffodil Festival on April 28th and 29th this year . You might finda Narcissus pseudonarcissus event near you . Photograph by Flickr userJeff Muceus .
In many places , daffodils can thrive for decennary with no intervention . My parents ' farm had a big square of daffodils in the grass that enshrined the spot where a previous house place upright . They bloom every saltation for about forty years after that house burned down , but eventually succumb to mowing , and the fact that I dig up a lot of the bulb . It look a little like this pastoral shot . photo by Flickr userMelinda Shelton .
William Wordsworth was inspired to writethe poemI Wandered Lonely as a Cloud , also known asDaffodilsin 1804 .
