For thousands of years, flowers have intrigued people from all over the world. The daffodil is no exception. If you enjoy marveling at the simple, elegant things in life or just have an affinity for horticultural arts, then spring on over to Daffodil Days between February 21st through March 10th. The 9th annual Daffodil Days at Garvan Woodland Gardens will be so captivating, you won’t want to “leaf.” With over 165,000 gold, yellow, and orange flowers, your heart will fill with pleasure as you “Dance with the daffodils.”
Daffodils, from the Dutch “De affodil,” date back to before 300 BCE, where they were used for medicinal purposes by the Greeks and Chinese. It did not take long for these colorful manifestations of charm to become part of their cultures. According to Greek mythology, a Thespiaen hunter named Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. He inevitably died of starvation, and a daffodil grew in his place. These floral delicacies have made their impact on Chinese history as well, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity throughout the New Year. It is said that if a daffodil grows in someone’s garden on New Year’s Day, then he or she will have good luck for an entire year.
Today, the popularity of daffodils is increasing exponentially. There are now over 25,000 variations of daffodils and daffodil hybrids ranging in sizes from a mere five inches to well over two feet. Representing rebirth, new beginnings, unrequited love, and eternal life, daffodils are most often associated with tenth wedding anniversaries and March birthdays. They are not, however, limited to bouquet assortments. They often serve as the subject of paintings, photography, and even poems, such as “Daffodils,” by William Woodsworth.
The impression these little wallflowers have made on history is prevalent in gardens around the world. It’s “daffling” that something so small can unite so many cultures and generations. Garvin Woodland Gardens
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