Most Gloucester residents are familiar with the county’s long history of daffodil-growing. At one time, Gloucester daffodils were well-known across the United States, and we are still pretty famous for the lovely blooms that herald the entrance of springtime.
I haven’t written a column about daffodils for several years, but this is the time to think about fall bulb planting, so a refresher course for daffodil veterans and some basic information for novices seems like a good topic for this week.
Narcissus is the formal name for all species of daffodils. These lovely, mostly spring-blooming perennial bulbs are native to Southern Europe and North Africa, but today are planted in gardens around the globe. According to the American Daffodil Society website, between 40 to 200 species, subspecies, and varieties exist, assigned to 13 official divisions, so perfect daffodils exist for every gardener’s taste.
Always select healthy bulbs from a reputable grower or other source. Look for firm bulb...