A Hillside of Spring Cheer

Last fall, I planted 150 daffodil bulbs between the perennials on my front slope. My goal was to repeat the successful planting of crocuses on the side slope. Those provide a much-needed splash of color in late March and April; I wanted to follow them with a cheerful display of yellow to fill the gap after the crocuses fade and before the perennials start to bloom in earnest in late May.

I bought my bulbs from one of my favorite Maine sources of seeds and plants, Fedco Seeds, a co-op that specializes in cold-hardy selections for the Northeast and whose catalogs are a source of both information and delight. From their catalog of “Bulbs and Plants for Fall Planting,” I chose the Narcissus Landscape Mix, described as a great choice for those who are “looking for a large splash of springtime inspiration that will last year after year.”

I used my garden spade to scoop out thirty holes between the perennials and pressed five daffodil bulbs into the sandy soil of each hole. After I closed each planting hole, I sprinkled ground cloves on top, a strategy recommended by Fedco for keeping rodents from sniffing out and digging up bulbs, and which I had used very successfully in protecting the crocus bulbs on the side slope.

As April has turned into May, all thirty clumps of daffodils have emerged and bloomed. I have identified four main varieties in my mix of daffodils (above), two yellow and two white, two with yellow cups and two with orange cups. As the perennials around them emerge and grow, I expect that the fading foliage of the daffodils will be mostly hidden from view. I am very happy with my hillside of spring cheer.