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Some Reflections on the Season

© Mary Lou Gripshover

Daffodil season is over in my area, though it continues in more northerly climates. It was a “different” season for me, starting late, then I was away for 10 days, and when I got home, it was over. Obviously there had been some hot weather in those 10 days! But there were compensations . . .

The American Daffodil Society celebrated its 50th anniversary in mid-April in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Hosted by the Washington Daffodil Society, it was an outstanding success! The show must have been the biggest ever, with over 3900 flowers in the competition. It was an amazing sight to see the preparation room filled with flowers and people, some of whom stayed up most of the night before to get their flowers entered. From all those 3900 blooms, a bloom of ‘La Paloma’ was judged Best in Show. It was exhibited by Virginian Bill Pannill, a past president of the ADS as well as the dean of amateur daffodil hybridizers in the United States. He also won a great many other classes including the class for 24 different flowers from 5 divisions and the class for 3 each of 12 different flowers from 3 divisions. He uses many of his own hybrids in winning these awards. The Best Miniature in the show was ‘Heidi’, shown by Chriss Rainey of Virginia.

One class that was specific for the 50th anniversary was the “Five Decades Class.” This called for a flower from each of the five decades the ADS has been in existence: 1954-1964, 1965-1974, 1975-1984, 1985-1994, 1995-2004. Hard-working Convention Chairman Kathy Welsh won this class with ‘Magic Lantern’ 1998, ‘Evesham’ 1990, ‘Golden Aura’ 1964, and (lower row) ‘Rapture’ 1976 and ‘Mexico City’ 1967.

Historic Daffodils are gaining new devotees these days, and a section for historic daffodils is now included in most daffodil shows, including the National Show. Historic daffodils, for ADS purposes, are those registered or known prior to 1940. Joe Hamm, from Indianapolis, is one of the ADS experts on historics, and he won the class for five historic daffodils with ‘Trousseau’, ‘Binkie’, ‘Madame DeGraaff’, and (lower row) ‘Rose of Tralee’ and ‘Love Nest’.

The Photography Section is also gaining interest. It gives people an opportunity to participate in the show even if they don’t have flowers. The award for Best in Show in photography went to Brenda Lyon from Australia. Several of our British members even brought flowers with them to exhibit, making the show and convention truly an international event.

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