Tuesday, March 22, 2011

DAFFODILS…I THINK


My first daffodils bloomed yesterday—though they could have been jonquils. Daffodils?Jonquils? I've never quite grasped the difference. I know that all jonquils are daffodils—that is to say they are both narcissus—but not all daffodils are jonquils. Which is which, I dunno. But my mother did. She always said her daffodils bloomed first. The ones she called jonquils sported smaller blooms than the flowers she identified as daffodils—and were very fragrant.

Whichever these are, they're located on the steep, rock-strewn hillside between the cottage and the road—a sort of tangled border, almost a thicket, with lots of trees, which I allow to remain wild and do nothing to maintain other than lop out some of the honeysuckle. A few bloodroots grow here, and even fewer jack-in-the-pulpits, along with the ubiquitous blue violets. But I wouldn't have expected these daffodils to bloom first. Instead, my money would have been on a small planting of the same species near the south side of the cottage. Usually it's these bulbs, protected from winter's winds and warmed by heat radiated from the cottage's stone wall, that poke up the first green shoots—sometimes amid patches of snow—and later, unfurl the first butter-yellow blooms.

This year, however, for whatever reason, the rowdy hillside bunch took the honors, gleaming like shards of sunlight come mid-morning. The laggardly cottage patch didn't show their yellow blooms until late afternoon.

We've had a a bit of rain before dawn, as well as a few light showers throughout the morning—though none in the last hour. In fact the sun is now out. I don't think we'll make it above 60˚F today; certainly we'll not enjoy a repeat of yesterday's 72˚F high. However, after a long winter—with rain expected for tomorrow and snow flurries predicted for Thursday—none of us riverbankers are keen on wasting such outside time. A song sparrow is whistling merrily. The squirrels are busy chasing about and squabbling over sunflower seeds. A couple of kingfishers are working the river. And just a few minutes ago a pair of Canada geese plucked their way through the corner of the yard visible from my workroom window.

I need to get out there and take advantage of whatever good weather the day serves up—doing more raking and clean-up in the back yard or in the small patch beyond where the drive slants down the hill, and which has been sorely neglected for too long. It's part of this year's yard plans to get this landscaped and planted. Who know? It might even happen.
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10 comments:

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-

I never even knew of the word 'jonquil' until I read this post so I have no reference for the difference. Our daffodils are coming up although not flowering yet.
We are getting snow Wednesday night in to Thursday, three to six inches is predicted.
I love your pictures Grizz and your hopes to tidy up around your drive-way. We are still neck deep in painting endeavors - moving in to the living room today, lovely dried parsley and ivy lane are our color picks - ceilings and trim are done. "YAY" the upstairs is a whole 'nother challenge. phew. enjoy your day - get raking. :-)
Love you always-
Gail
peace.....

The Weaver of Grass said...

I can feel the lifting of your spirits in this blog - I think we have all waited so long for this day.

I always thought that jonquils have multi blooms on a stem but I may be completely wrong - all that really matters is that they are out and they are giving such joy.

Julie Baumlisberger said...

Lovely flowers! I envy you your head start on spring yard work and blooms - we still have some icy/snowy spots and my winter aconites are just starting to show their yellow shoulders...and it's just way too soggy and muddy for raking....I have been taking refuge in my tomato seedlings on my windowsills, nursing them along from their tiny germination size to the point where, hopefully by the end of next week, I can transplant them into larger peat pots.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

To a great extent, this name usage is cultural/regional. "Jonquil" is heard far more often in the South. In fact, it is often substituted for the word "daffodil," though this is incorrect. Mom and Dad, both being from the South, frequently said jonquil, though since my father had a degree in education and a minor in botany, he always made sure to differentiate…and Mom, who would otherwise have likely thought daffodil a Yankee term for jonquil, but knew the difference, followed suit.

We're also supposed to get some snow—though now they're saying Wednesday night, and snow/rain mix. Who knows?

Tidying up along the drive and several other yard chores is hope to accomplish remain just that—hopes. And don't even mention painting. We have hopes for that, too. Your colors sound lovely. Don't overdo the work; rest often and enjoy.

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

I am feeling more myself…and do hope your discernment proves prophetic.

You're right, I think, re. jonquils having multiple blooms on their stems; and the stems themselves are slender and reedlike.

Grizz………… said...

Julie…

I need all the head start on the yard work I can get! In fact, I could use about a half dozen gung-ho strong-backed assistants and have March extended by a couple extra weeks…and then I might come close to getting it all done.

Every year I keep vowing to start a lot of stuff in windowsill pots. I have the perfect place in my great room with what amounts to a 24-foot long window seat across the west, river-facing, end of the cottage, and a similar 12-foot seat/ledge on the south. Both have electric heating panels underneath and plenty of light, and I could easily put several dozen trays of Jiffy pots on them.

Julie Baumlisberger said...

Oooh, lucky you! You have a perfect spot for seedlings!!!!!Wish you lived closer ;)

Grizz………… said...

Julie…

It really is a perfect place to raise trays of seedlings. I should have oodles of plants ready to set out every year…but, alas, I never get around to rounding up pots and seeds and planting soil soon enough.

Yeah, guess Ohio and Ontario is kinda a fur piece to be trading seedlings—otherwise…

MorningAJ said...

I think jonquils are what my mum used to call 'cheerfulness'. They are smaller than daffs and have two or three flowers on each stem - and they smell lovely. Daffs always seem to smell 'green' to me!

Grizz………… said...

MorningAJ …

I've never heard them called that—but from your description, I'm sure you're right. Jonquils do bloom several to a stem, they are smaller than most classic species of daffodils, and are noted for their fragrance. "Cheerfulness" sounds like a perfect name.