Dorothy Wordsworth
This narrative inspired her brother William Wordsworth to pen the following stanza in his famous poem "Daffodils"
‘When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.’
Native to the Mediterrranean region and warmer regions of southern Europe, commonly know as Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) belong to the the genus Narcissus. Versatility in terms of unique flower shapes, colours and ability to naturalize makes narcissi or narcissus appealing. Daffodil flowers herald the coming of spring.
Here in Pakistan we have two prominent cultivars of Tazetta Narcissus or daffodils which include the early flowering variety 'Paper White" more heat tolerant than the other Tazetta Narcissus having yellow trumpet (corona) & ring of white petals known as perianth found commonly in NWFP characterized by its heavenly fragrance and multitude of florets whose bouquets are sold in streets from January till march. A third variety known as a yellow wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) could be sighted in gardens in Punjab till early 90’s but now is very hard to find.
They grow best in dappled shade and require protection from hot afternoon sun. It is recommended to plant them in pots which enable one to keep track of them especially when they undergo the dormancy period. The bulbs should be positioned pointed end up with snout protruding above the surface. Watering is important and it’s recommended to keep the soil moist but not soggy especially when the bulbs are developing as daffodils hate waterlogged or poorly drained soil. Thus good drainage is a must. They ideally prefer deep loamy soil or garden soil mixed with generous amounts of compost and can even tolerate clay soil but loathe rich soil having high nitrogen content. So fresh manure should be avoided owning to the high nitrogen content in it which can burn up the bulbs as well encourage foliage formation at expense of flowers.
Fading flowers should be cut as seed production can deplete the strength of the bulb. Leaves provide nourishment to the bulb and should not be cut or tied tightly into a knot which can weaken the bulb. Rather its better to let the leaves die down naturally which takes place approximately 2-3 months after flowering.
Following was mentioned by Sydney Percy Lancaster an English horticulturist who spent decades in British India based in Delhi in his book "A Sahib's Manual for the Mali".
![Image](http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx292/ikhurram/Daffodils/daffodils-Sydney-Percy-Lancaster_zps830ed730.jpg)
Caution:
Bulbs and leaves of Daffodils contain lycorine a poison which can prove to be lethal if eaten in large quantities thus advisable to keep them away from toddlers. Sap in daffodils contains Calcium Oxalate which can cause skin irritation thus advisable to wear gloves while putting them in a vase.
Below are photos of Tazetta Narcissus (Paper white and NWFP daffodil). Hopefully in a few weeks I shall post pictures of late blooming varieties (Tete a Tete and Grand Soleil d’Or’)
![Image](http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx292/ikhurram/Daffodils/n1_zpsb36d8099.jpg)
![Image](http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx292/ikhurram/Daffodils/n2_zpsf7e4ea67.jpg)
![Image](http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx292/ikhurram/Daffodils/n4_zps1244702c.jpg)
Paper White Tazetta Daffodil or Narcissus.
![Image](http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx292/ikhurram/Daffodils/n3_zpsf5504bb7.jpg)
NWFP Tazetta Daffodil Characterized by yellow corona, white perianth and immense fragrance.