Daffodil Hunting
— Christine Siller, Executive Director
Image by Rachael Pothula
The daffodil, as the famous Bard notes, is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. It is the flower of flowers when it comes to ephemeral signifiers that “winter’s paler” will cease, and the bustling energy of spring will come. Spotting a daffodil is delightful to say the least, for it promises “the sweet o’ the year” is upon us and it will be bright and beautiful.
The daffodil has had other meanings associated with it over time. During the Victorian era, when modesty was the norm, people often used flowers to express their innermost thoughts. The daffodil represented chivalry and secret, unrequited love. In time, this romantic meaning evolved simply into symbolizing friendship. Many high school students will recall annual spring fundraisers in which one purchased mini-daffodil bouquets to secretly send to one’s friends in the name of a good cause.
The tradition of daffodil friendship bouquets has had some dire consequences for the flower’s succession. Some countries have had to impose strict picking laws (UK and France) to protect these little beauties. Even in Rye, daffodil hunting can get a bit out of hand. One morning there will be dozens in bloom. By the next day, daffodil hunters have pillaged the town. Personally, I love nothing more than walking through Rye and seeing these beauties poking out of the ground. Why spoil the bold bounty of spring?
If you must express your love and/or friendship through a daffodil, then please take care to only cut those from your own personal garden. To ensure that the nutrients remain intact so the bulb can do its thing next season, be sure to cut only the flower’s stem and not its leaves. Daffodils use their leaves to create energy, which is then used to create next year’s flower. If you cut back daffodils before the leaves have turned yellow, the daffodil bulb will not produce a flower next year. Cut the stem at a 45-degree angle with pruning shears. Please do not simply pick!
Happy Spring!
