LADYBUG SAYS... SPRING HAS ARRIVED; IT'S DAFFODIL TIME

SPRING IS HERE!

Wednesday was the day of the vernal equinox the official beginning of spring when the day and night are the same length, which came at 9:02 p.m.

Spring means daffodil time, and this year they were opening well on the first day of spring. Often, they come earlier and sometimes later, but this year many of them were ushered in with spring.

Possibly because of the continued cold weather, without unseasonal warming spells, the spring flowering bulbs are blooming far better than they have in years.

Though we know the first day of spring does not arrive until late March, our psychological calendars tell us that winter ends long before it does, and that spring is just around the corner! We begin to yearn early for the first flowers to open and warm our souls.

The curtain raisers are the little snowdrops, which bloom so abundantly that we termed them a menace in the orchards in my growing up years. They have teardrop-shaped flowers in white with a green base and they multiply abundantly.

Then comes the little reticulata iris with its dainty blue or purple blooms, almost touching the ground. Her sister is danfordiae iris, also about six inches tall, flowering in a bright yellow and slightly fragrant.

No doubt the most popular early bulb is the crocus, ranging in height from three to 10 inches in a wide range of colors white, yellow, lavender, blue and striped combinations. They will multiply if left undisturbed and can become naturalized on the lawn, since they are through blooming before the lawnmowing begins.

One of my very favorites is chionodoxa, possibly because I just picked some and brought them in with that sweet, gold little miniature Tete-a-Tete daffodil, only six inches tall. Chionodoxa has bright blue flowers with white centers, and they make nice companions for a miniature bouquet.

Well, following these little guys and later in spring are grape-hyacinths (Muscari) scilla in several colors, the early tulips, and hyacinths.

Whoa it was my intention to talk about my very favorite flower the daffodil.

Let me begin by again answering that age-old question "What is the difference between a daffodil, a narcissus and a jonquil?"

Narcissus is the botanical name, daffodil is the common name for the entire genus, and the two names are interchangeable.

Jonquil, however, is for one small group, and one of the oldest, in the 11 classifications of this popular spring flowering bulb.

Call them all daffodils, and you will never be wrong, hence, "Daffodil Day."

Daffodils come in a surprising array of sizes, from miniatures to five-inch flowers on two-foot stems. They come in a wide range of colors from yellow, gold, orange, pink, white, tinted green and many color combinations.

Because there are more than 3,000 varieties (and new ones coming all of the time) it is now possible to have them blooming over a period of six to eight weeks.

The yellow trumpets, the cyclamineus hybrids and some jonquil hybrids are all early bloomers. Poeticus hybrids bring the season to a close. In between there are many, many to choose from including doubles, multiflowered ones the pinks and many others.

While they are blooming is a good time to note the varieties to choose for fall planting. Flowering bulb catalogs are filled with temptations. Mark them now.

There are so many pluses for these spring beauties that it is my belief they are the garden's best investment. They are easy to grow, in sun or shade, will grow unattended for years, multiply readily, and mice and gophers do not disturb them as they do tulips.

It is important they are planted in a well drained spot as they do not tolerate wet feet. At planting time bulbs prefer a low nitrogen, moderate phosphorous and high potash fertilizer, such as a slow release 5-10-20, or a commercial product, known as Bulb Booster 9-9-6 and used according to instructions.

When first gardening we were told never, never to cut off the foliage until it has completely died down. The foliage continues to grow after they have finished blooming and often "flops over," so it always was braided or folded over and secured with strong rubber bands. Now, however, authorities say not do that as it chokes them and their feeding days are over. They suggest that after daffodils bloom, six weeks more be allowed for taking in food for next year's bloom, and they be cut off as high as possible.

Quite possibly the narcissus family is the best loved of all the bulbs, and these flowers were known to the Elizabethans as "Daffadowndillies."