The Cornish Daffodil

At this time of year, our hedgerows, gardens and fields are filled with a bright yellow, courtesy of the humble daffodil. 

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, particularly the Scillies, have been growing, picking and sending daffodils to London markets for years. Our milder climate encourages them to flower from early February onwards, maybe earlier with a mild winter. In our collection of old books, there are photos of the flower pickers and articles extolling their beauty. For many years, Cornish daffodils were the first to open and bring colour to flower markets like Covent Garden. It is a comforting thought that the early Cornish daffodil brings so much joy to people in colder parts of the country, probably long before the bulbs have flowered in more northern gardens.

I bought a bunch of pale, creamy daffodils last week and their scent filled the kitchen and brought joy to a corner for a while before they faded and I wistfully, took them to the compost bin. Their ephemeral beauty and dazzling display lasts but for a few short days and I am thankful for their stunning colour at, what has been, a dull start to the year. Having said that, I am not a fan of their scent. Manufacturers of room sprays must agree, as you never see a daffodil fragrance in their range. I find it overwhelming and it makes me sneeze, but that is a small price to pay for the lift in my spirits!

A brown, papery bulb planted in the autumn, is usually forgotten in our garden until a tiny green tip emerges and reminds us that it is there. After a few days, the sight of several green shoots makes my heart sing and brings a smile to my face in anticipation of the glorious display. Then, before you know it, the flowers open with their magnificent trumpets as if to proclaim like a town crier - ‘SPRING IS HERE!’ They are definitely the star of our garden at this time of year!