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Daffodils in the UK

© Mary Lou Gripshover

My own daffodil season was probably the worst daffodil season I've ever had. Sure, we complain about the weather every year - I suspect most gardeners who have a favorite plant do - but this was the worst in memory. It began as an early season, then we got killing frosts that ruined the early buds, then it got hot and everything came out at once. In effect, my season was over by mid-April, and it usually lasts to mid-May.

Fortunately, I had planned to go to Britain for the celebration of the Centenary of The Daffodil Society there. Members of The Daffodil Society had planned a fun-filled week of activities, which was followed by another fun- filled week in Northern Ireland - The Second World Tour of Northern Ireland.

The first event in London was The Daffodil Show of the Royal Horticultural Society. The weather had proved troublesome in Britain as well, with the flowers well advanced; so we were pleased to see a good number of flowers on display. This is the premier daffodil show in Britain where the competition is held for the prestigious Engleheart Cup. This is for twelve daffodils raised (hybridized) by the exhibitor, and competition is always keen. This year it was won by Brian Duncan, of Northern Ireland, with wonderful flowers including 'Goldfinger,' an all yellow trumpet daffodil; 'Dorchester,' a white and pink double daffodil; 'Surrey,' a large cup daffodil with yellow petals and a brilliant red cup; and 'Cheetah,' a trumpet daffodil with yellow petals and an orange trumpet. 'Bouzouki,' another yellow and red large cup, and his new 'Chobe River,' also a yellow trumpet, were included. These last three drew lots of attention from the eighty or so American visitors on the tour.

Best bloom in show was 'Moon Shadow,' a short cupped white and yellow flower. Bred by Clive Postles, it was exhibited by amateur Paul Payne. Shows in Britain have Open Classes, Amateur Classes, and Novice Classes. Several Americans entered blooms, carefully carried across the Atlantic, and Eileen Whitney of New York won the award for Best Miniature in the Show, a miniature poeticus, still under number W-12 from John Kibler. Another American flower, 'Sammy Girl', attracted attention because it was a white and pink tazetta hybrid, perhaps the first of that type.

Rain the next several days dampened our visits to Wisley Gardens and Hyde Hall Garden, but the sun shone for our visit to Hofflands Daffodils. Here, as at the London show, we spotted 'Lavender Mist' which on opening has a pale pink cup, but with age, the pink fades to leave a distinct hint of lavender. Who

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