You're Boston area, right? If you were in the Berkshires, I'd send you to Albany.

Ginny - I am thinking of going to the Daffodil Days at Blithewold gardens. See link below...

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Daffodil Days at Blithewold

Hi Sue--Thanks for the link! I saw that Blithewold was publicizing its daffodil display but I am a little burned after my trip to Nantucket. They said they had several *million* daffodils but I scarcely saw several hundred. So I would like some first-hand confirmation from someone here that the show is good.

And Mad Gallica--Do tell about the Albany area. You never know when you're going to be someplace.

It's been a few years since I've seen it, but Washington Park does a really big spring bulb display. It's not too far from Albany Med, and the Capital Monstrosity, um, Building.

Thanks for the info!

Hubbard park in Meriden CT has a fantastic display of daffodils every year. 4/29-4/30 is the festival w/end, but sometimes they are off with their timing a bit. We usually drive thru the park on a different day to see the daffodils and avoid the crowds. They claim 600,000 daffodils.

Here is a link that might be useful: Daffodilfest in Meriden, CT park

That looks wonderful--thanks!

Hi Ginny,
Here are some events nationwide. I know you are looking for local events though. I thought this was interesting to post for others in any case. There is an event at Tower Hill Botanical Garden:

May 6-7, New England Regional Show, West Boylston, Massachusetts

Seven States Daffodil Society Show at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, West Boylston, MA exit 24 off of Route 290. Contact: Dianne Mrak, 72 Bay View Road, Dover, NH 03820 (603) 742-1315; [e-mail:Diannemrak@aol.com]

Here is a link that might be useful: Daffodil Events USA

Sue, Sorry to take so long to reply--I was away. That is a great link and I am going to save it. And thanks for the Tower Hill reminder. I couldn't go last year but hope to make it this year. Hope they have some daffodils left. It seems like a very early season this year.

OT--Didn't you once mention you knew Rudy Favretti? Someone just asked me about him but I haven't heard anything in quite awhile.

Hi Ginny,
Did you go anywhere good? You went to Hawaii, now you are away again. Lucky you! So it must be a different Sue you are thinking about as I don't know Rudy.

Sue

Hmmm. Then I don't know who it was who knew him but it was someone here. Guess I misplaced my memory.....

To answer your question, I went on a garden tour in Texas. Saw some nice places, especially one by 20c landscape architect Tommy Church, mostly known for his California work (he died some time ago). Also one by Russell Page, a famous British landscape architect (also deceased) who mostly worked in Europe. Clients were zillionaires. Each designer was outstanding. Gardens are so ephemeral that it was a thrill to see these.

We also visited a prairie remnant, with native spring wildflowers blooming--tho no bluebonnets, TX state flower. Their conditions are so different from ours that it is like visiting another planet. I saw very few things that I can grow here. But I guess that is the fun of garden-touring.

Hi, Ginny ~

If you are able to visit the Adams Mansion (Adams National Historical Site) in Quincy later in the month, you will see an incredible naturalistic display of daffodils blooming under historic apple trees. I have not been there yet this year, but it's always a must (they may be seen from certain areas of the sidewalk, too).

There is no charge to visit the gardens. You may want to check to see when they "officially" open to the public. I believe it's April 19 this year. Their telephone number is 617-745-0926. The admission to the house is very reasonable... $2.00 the last time I went. Might as well see it if you are there.

My family jokes that I "drag" all our visitors to see the mansion and gardens, no matter what time of the year (even when it's closed).

If you take the "whole tour" (including where John Adams was born and the house where he and Abigail lived before moving to the big house), you get to see a video first and then take a trolley to all sites.

Truly enchanting. I have wonderful photographs of thousands of daffodils that I took for a magazine article I wrote several years ago. However, I drive by the site many times a month and it's not out of my way. If you are coming from a distance, you may want to find out when the daffodil display is at its peak.

Ginny sounds like a fabulous garden tour. I have a book on the gardens of Russell Page someone gave me. I'll have to get that book out and take a look to see what you are talking about.

So interesting article today in the Boston Globe web site on daffodils (free account required to view link below). I am sure the newpaper had all the photos which were left out on the website...

Here is a link that might be useful: Daffodils Article www.boston.com

Hi Sue! The Russell Page garden I visited in Texas is in that book, The Gardens of Russell Page, which I have too. It's near the back, near the end of his career. I'm glad to have the pictures in the book as we were not allowed to take photos--anguish! And I get the Globe so saw the daffodil article with photos. Nice to see some space devoted to gardening.

And Boston Gardens, thanks so much for the tip about the Adams garden. I have been there but never this time of year and I had no idea they had such a wonderful display. Hope I can get down there. It's been a long time so I should probably do the whole tour again, as you suggest. Thank you!

We visited Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol, RI yesterday during Daffodil Days. The weather was a little overcast but the rain held off and we had a wonderful day!

Daffodil Days is an event held each year at Blithewold for a 3 week period in April. What a lovely display of daffodils and spring flowering trees!!! Tens of thousands of daffodils of many varieties in bloom throughout the gardens. In addition to the daffodils and flowering trees, the greenhouse containing tender succulents, citrus plants, cuttings and seedlings was open to the public and very inviting. Also interesting were the rock and water gardens. Be sure to visit the giant sequoia on the property one of the largest in the Eastern US. Also note the cutting and vegetable gardens and large stand of bamboo.

After touring the gardens, we visited the mansion for a self guided tour. Helpful guides are there to answer questions and each room contains a detailed description of the history and furnishings of the room. Each room was decorated with lovely flower arrangements done by local florists. If you go during the week they serve tea in the Blithewold dining room.

Interesting fact one of the tour guides told me: They only have 3 full time garden staff. The gardens are maintained by many volunteers and there's a group that just goes around dead heading the plants and they call themselves the 'Deadheaders' (aptly named!)

If you can get there this week I'd highly recommend it!!!! Or save the idea for next spring. Well worth the $10 admission.

I've posted my photos below. Enjoy!

Question: There was a dainty yellow flower that looked like a small upside down tulip. Can anyone identify it (see photo album)?

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Photos from Daffodil Days at Blithewold

Great photos of Blithewold! Thanks for posting them.

Is the "upside down tulip" a trout lily?

Here is a link that might be useful:

Sue--Absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful daffodils in a wonderful garden setting and great photos. Thank you so much for posting all these and for your trip report. It looks as if you were there at the perfect peak of bloom. It doesn't look as if I can get there this year--this week is completely full--but I am going to put it on the calendar for next April and go, by hook or by crook. Blithewold has really done amazing things in the last ten years. What a treasure for New England. Thank you again.

DTD - Thanks! I think you are right about the trout lily. The foliage definitely was speckled like the photo. The only thing I don't know about the red in the flower but they were so close to the ground and closed up this is difficult to tell.

Ginny - I am glad you liked the photos! I saw another posting about an article in the Hartford Courant that explained this year's daffodils being lusher and fuller than other years. A quote from the article:

"I'm very impressed with them this year," said Carol Quish, program aide at the University of Connecticut Home and Garden Center. It's been a dry spring, with some cool weeks, some warm spells. The combination so far seems to have been conducive to a showy display. Too much heat and daffodils fade, she said.

So I hope they are as spectacular next year.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Hartford Courant Article

Sue, great slideshow...my many thanks!

Yes, those little guys are trout lilies. They can take a couple years to get established but, eventually, can colonize an area (this will take several years).

Thank you for the gorgeous slideshow of Blithewold! My husband's uncle lives in Bristol and I keep saying we have to go visit this mansion. Next year the daffodils will be even better, if that is possible. I have a water color of a trout lily that I purchased from a fund raiser at Mass. Audubon. They are lovely in person. Thanks for sharing the sunshine.

In Falmouth (Cape Cod) there is supposed to be a garden (private?) that has a large daffodil display. I've been told about it, but have not visited it myself, and now can't think of the name. I believe it's on one of the roads leading to Woods Hole.
Can anyone enlighten us?
Thanks
Maryanne in WMass

Thanks for all confirmations on the trout lily ID.

triciae - so it looks like NEWFS sells the Trout Lily. Do you know if they become overly invasive? I am always checking for this when buying an unknown plant.

Sue

GarlicGrower - Is this the garden in the link?

Here is a link that might be useful: Falmouth Daffodils

I know this is a long way away for next spring but I stumbled on this listing for the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe VT:

Trapp Family Lodge 700 Trapp Hill Road, Stowe
800-826-7000 or 802-253-8511
Grounds include 14,000 bulbs. www.trappfamily.com.

Ginny something to keep in mind for next year? BTW People, Places and Plants magazine listing of public gardens if a very nice resource for people, check it out if you are traveling to an area. Some listings I didn't know about.

Anyone comment on the Trapp Family Lodge gardens or bulb display?

Here is a link that might be useful: PPPlants public gardens listings

Thanks, Sue. Will keep it in mind. I'd love to know if anyone has been there to see the bulbs. After Nantucket, I am suspicious about claims of tens of thousands of bulbs.

Ginny, don't know about tens of thousands bulbs, but I could definitely guarantee you up to four thousands here, in my garden, though you have to visit me frequently to see them all as they bloom from March till September. :-))

Your garden sounds absolutely wonderful, George. And I always love your photos.

George what bulb suppliers do you use? I have used Old House Gardens and this year put in an order with John Scheepers. Always curious where people get their bulbs...

Vast majority of my bulbs coming from the two sourses:
Van Engelen/John Scheepers and Costco. End of the season 75% off sales at HD also made its contribution to the total, but I'm not looking at HD as a SOURSE, while Costco's bulbs are of excellent quality and they do have a good selection. Trick is to get them ASAP as they appear on a shelves (late August-early September) and then store them in a fridge till appropriate planting time.
VE/JS is the perfect supplier of superior quality bulbs at the reasonable prices.
Another great thing about VE/JS is that they not only declared, but also implemented policy "Customer is always right, 100%" and their customer service is the best of mail order companies I was dealing with. All complains are accepted with no arguments and they always try to make up for their imperfection, if any.
I was buying from B&B as well, but stop doing that 2 years ago due to not the best value for money and always problematic delivery timing (either too late or too early or never).