The weather this spring has definitely been odd. From a very cold period of ice and snow to very warm and wet, I can only imagine that the daffodils are left feeling a little confused. Fortunately, already established plantings are thriving. One of the very first daffodils to start blooming this season was the ‘Ice Follies’ daffodil. I had originally planted this one as part of a mixed packet, but am certain of its identity. Let’s take a closer look at the flowers.
Like many daffodils, the appearance of ‘Ice Follies’ daffodil flowers will change as the bloom ages. In the photo above, the flowers are the left are those which have opened recently. The flowers on the right have been open for several days. As you can see, a bit of mud has splashed onto the petals as the result of heavy rain. More noticeably, the color of the cup has changed from rich yellow to a more pale color. Very pretty!
I haven’t cut many daffodils for flower arrangements this year, but have really enjoyed their beauty in the ornamental flower beds. Since ‘Ice Follies’ daffodil produces a lot of pollen, I’ve also been using it to experiment with hybridizing daffodils for the first time. It seems like I’m always getting some new and wild idea to expand the garden!
