My Narcissus 'Martha Stewart' in Bloom
The ‘Martha Stewart’ daffodils are blooming at my Bedford, New York farm.
Underneath the majestic pin oaks in the allee and the stand of weeping willows is a variety of Narcissi named after me by Van Engelen Inc., a wholesale flower bulb company in Bantam, Connecticut. Narcissus ‘Martha Stewart’ is a Karel van der Veek hybrid with a three-inch white perianth surrounding a pale yellow cup. In full bloom, these flowers grow to about 16 to 18 inches tall and look stunning against my luscious green lawns.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Van Engelen Inc. knew my passion for Narcissi, and named a daffodil variety after me several years ago – Narcissus ‘Martha Stewart’. I was so honored.
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- When I first received the ‘Martha Stewart’ daffodil bulbs, they were planted under six weeping willow trees at the end of the Pin Oak Allee behind my Equipment Barn.
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- After blooming so beautifully, we planted more bulbs under the pin oaks the following season.
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- Narcissus is a genus of spring perennial plants of the Amaryllidaceae family.
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- Daffodils are among the easiest flowers to grow and are ideal for novice gardeners in most regions of the United States. The flowers are generally white or yellow with either uniform or contrasting colored tepals and corona.
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- These blooms show the distinct perfectly formed three-inch white perianth surrounded by the pale, yellow cup.
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- The daffodils in the willow grove were the first to open. Narcissi tend to be long-lived bulbs, which propagate by division but are also insect-pollinated.
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- Every year, these flowers naturalize and fill more and more of the pits around the trees.
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- We also planted some under the weeping larch at the end of the Pin Oak Allee. The weeping larch, Larix decidua “Pendula” is a European larch cultivar that grows to 10 to 12 feet, boasting long, weeping branches.
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- This is how they looked just a couple weeks ago.
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- The flowers took their time developing – some a little longer than others.
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- And last week, they were bursting with life. Daffodil bulbs should be planted where there is full sun or part shade. Most tolerate a range of soil types but will grow best in moderate, well-drained soil.
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- Daffodils tend to resist deer, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and other pests. Most of them do not enjoy the taste of bulbs in the Narcissi family.
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- These flowers contain a toxic sap that’s harmful to other flowers. When cutting daffodils for arrangements, don’t mix them unless the daffodils have been soaking in water for 24-hours.
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- Narcissi are hardy from zones 2 through 9. There are 13-classes of daffodil, more than 40-species, and thousands of cultivars, including this one, ‘Martha Stewart’.
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- Narcissus bulbs follow an annual cycle, which includes the chilling time, flowering period, and a phase of rest and recuperation while the bulb gathers strength to produce a flower the next year. This period starts as soon as the flower fades.
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- Depending on the type of cultivar and where it was planted, the daffodil’s flowering season can last up to several weeks.
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- The leaves are flat and broad. New plants generally have two leaves, but more mature plants usually have three, and sometimes four.
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- The daffodil is the 10th wedding anniversary flower. It accompanies tin and aluminum as the traditional gift. The gemstone for this special anniversary year is the diamond.
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- Here you can see the flowers at their peak – so alert and colorful.
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- Narcissi are well suited for planting under small thickets of trees, where they can be planted in groups. They also grow very well in perennial borders and look beautiful randomly planted in wooded areas.
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- And don’t forget they also look wonderful planted in large, fluid sweeps showcasing a mix of sizes, textures, and color combinations.
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- These flowers are all reliable bloomers and can continue to produce each spring for decades.
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- Driving down the allee when these flowers are in bloom makes me so very happy. I hope you are able to enjoy the beauty of some gorgeous daffodils where you live. Stay safe.
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