On March 16, I had the pleasure of visiting a private garden* (this garden will open to the public in March of 2012, stay tuned for more information) in north Georgia with millions of daffodils (they planted three million and there must have been at least one million in bloom on the day that I was there; a real treat for a Narcissus lover like me. In my own garden I only have hundreds but aspire to thousands and add more daffodils each year. In our ever changing southern climate we can grow early, midseason and late varieties. The garden I visited had the luxury of large spaces and rolling terrain but even small gardens can create wonderful effects with daffodils. The same seasoned gardeners who know that all azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas also know that all jonquils and daffodils belong to the genus Narcissus.
Daffodils in private garden, north Georgia
More often than not when I give a lecture and recommend plants a common question is “Is it deer resistant?” In the case of Narcissus, the bulbs are poisonous and therefore deer and other critters avoid them. I did have someone challenge me on this point once but in my experience (over 20 years of gardening and visiting gardens throughout the US I have never known of deer to eat daffodils.) Some of my favorite selections include ‘Thalia’ an heirloom that dates to 1916, with two to three pure white flowers per stem, it and ‘Sweetness’ a golden yellow with delicious fragrance, it dates to 1939.
Other blooms and plants of interest in my garden this week include Angelica keiski also known as perennial Ashitaba, which I see listed in Plant Delights Nursery catalogue, www.plantdelights.com hardy from zone 7 to 9 or colder. A native of Japan it is probably best known as a medicinal plant. For me the glossy green foliage adds great architecture when it comes up early and looks good until the extreme hot weather sets in. At which point the leaves begin to die back and the plant goes dormant. Because of this I grow it with Lonicera nitida ‘Lemon Beauty.’ (Zone 7 to 9) Planted close by is Acer palmatum ‘Villa Taranto’ with beautiful its fresh spring foliage. In the background Viburnum macrocephalum (Zone 7 to) is just beginning to put on a show with large clusters of flowers that start out chartreuse and then turn white, extending the bloom time for weeks. This viburnum can easily grow to heights of 20’ or taller so site it at the back of the border and give it plenty of room. The heuchera’s look great too, especially Heuchera ‘Citronelle.’ Planted in the same area is Baptisia ‘Carolina Moonlight, with new shoots that remind me of asparagus, although I would not recommend eating them. Purple violas add color in this sea of green.
Viburnum macrocephalum, Acer palmatum 'Villa Taranto' and Angelica keiski
Narcissus 'Sweetness' March 22 in my garden
Yes, spring is here and each day my garden offers new delights. Now if I can just keep the chickweed under control before I plant summer annuals.
