“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.” —Geoffrey B. Charlesworth
While winter deserves its own recognition; towards the end we all anticipate the coming of spring when the earth slowly awakens from her deep slumber.
When she is ready, the birds seem to be the first to announce her arrival. They sing giddy songs in the early morning and dance among the budding trees. Not far behind, early rising daffodils and tulips fight through the last drifts of snow, stretching towards the sun. We will see these beauties before we know it; here’s some fun facts while we await their arrival.
25 different types of daffodils make an appearance across the globe. With close to 13,000 hybrid varieties, there are numerous colors and textures to appeal to any gardener. Also appealing, daffodils are deer, squirrel and mostly insect resistant due to toxic crystals in the bulb. Be sure not to let your dogs dig around the garden when these lovelies are in full bloom, the poison can make your dog sick.
Tulips can be divided into about 150 various species, but there are more than 3,500 varieties worldwide. Tulips are known for their bold colors, beautiful shape, and most varieties are almost perfectly symmetrical. Tulips have been cultivated in every solid color except for classic blue. There is a blue tulip; it just has a purple hue to it.
There are also striped tulips. In 1931, scientists discovered the striped coloring was caused by a DNA altering virus spread by aphids. Today, this color is artificially reproduced. They still use the virus to alter the DNA, but it is done without the aphids.
May your early arrivals bring you smiles this season!