daffodils

Pepper and Daffodil

In recent years these two have not shared time. I've started all late this year and the consistent coolness has kept the flowers. Soon the peppers will need to go out so the tomatoes can take their place on the starting shelf.



Daft



These are some daffodils growing in our side yard. It's an exceptionally warm garden, even with the cold temps of the latter half of January. So, you could imagine my surprise...

...when I drove by these daffs on my way to the Food Co-op on Cortelyou Avenue yesterday. Scooby says eeuuuh? Now that's too early in a winter that isn't particularly warm! As I was driving, I couldn't stop to make sense of it all, but was taken by the few people milling around the flowers. They must be confused by the display too -it was so paranormal. Look at the placement -who plants bulbs like that? And only on this corner, only in the public lawn?Though I was late for everything ahead, I made sure to double back on my return from the co-op.

As I wrapped the corner, I rolled down the window to take the photo. Shutter hardly pressed and a minor army of stand-arounds approached my vehicle. I heard ROLLING! Then I understood -they didn't mean me. Movies, right -that's why they look so wrong. Springtime in New York.

You've Seen It



I've seen it. Last night was the first time I chose to picture it -daffodils well-suited to the mid-March-like snowfall we had. Two weeks ago I saw yellow daffs in the children's garden at BBG.




Daffy


The daffs are blooming well. Its been the right kind of spring in NYC as far as plants should be concerned. Rainy days alternating with sunny ones. Never too warm -spending flowers as fast as they come, wilting young leaves, and growing legs.

Do the daffodils get the respect they deserve? Often in mass plantings that highlight their color over their form and twelve inches above the ground, I don't think people get up close to them very often. These below smell wonderful. Get up close.


Small cups, pale yellow-medium cups, slightly deeper yellow

All the following are the same...

But in front of the dwarf spirea, a world of difference


Whats Up in the Garden



The daffodils (aka narcissus, jonquils, etc.) I planted when I first began the front garden. I've not tended to the daffs well, often I've accidently chopped them up when moving perennials. There was a moment when I schooled myself in all the different "divisions" of daffodils. But alas, I don't even remember what kind I have any more. On the left I feel pretty confident is a Double or Division 4, with pale apricot center and white outer petals. On the right, the pendant and fuschia-like form makes me think its a Division 5, Triandus.


The greens are coming up. I can thank the rain for helping out. I think plants prefer rain.


As for the broccoli, its coming along. The planter is nothing to look at, but I generally don't grow food with aesthetics in mind. You don't see them here, but the peas are doing okay as well, although they haven't grown as fast as the did in the warmth of the house. I wonder about inoculation, whether the seeds were innoculated, whether its a commercial scheme to get us to worry into buying more product, or whether there really is enough of the right organisms in my compost to fix the nitrogen for the peas. Either way I'm going with last night's brief thunderstorm as helping out in the matter.