Daffodil, a truly special daffodil!

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Every person has their goal, every goal has its flower. Today that flower is the daffodil!

All trips bring a flood of memories, emotions and represent an opportunity for an adventure.

You will all know that feeling of impatience that precedes a trip. You think about destinations, you surf the web looking for everything you could explore. Expectations grow as the days decrease, we are happy to leave the daily routine behind for a few days to be able to throw ourselves into something new, already in our eyes the images of what we want to see.

But do you know what the great thing is about working in a place like a nursery? The fact is that even before leaving, walking through the greenhouses or among the plants outside, you can already smell the scent of your journey.

Fortunately, we are not referring to the often objectionable smell of trains and planes. Good heavens, no. We are referring to the intoxicating scent of flowers.

“What a novelty”, you will think, “in a nursery you always smell flowersThis is probably true, but just as at Christmas the scent in the air suddenly seems to become sweeter, in anticipation of a trip there are certain flowers that seem to stand out more than usual.

As we said at the beginning, today we will talk about the daffodil and guess why? Because we’re leaving for Berlin soon! Although, to be honest, by the time this article comes out, we’ll be right there.

But let’s stop talking and let’s get to know this lively flower!

THE JUNKILLE

The daffodil is a bulbous plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, the same as other plants that we have had the pleasure of knowing, such as, for example, the Snowdrop.

It reaches about 30cm in height and, in spring, gives its best with a brilliant and fragrant flowering of a bright and intense yellow. As a plant it is native to Europe and Africa where, in some areas, such as south-eastern Europe, Italy and north-west Africa, it grows spontaneously.

The botanical name of this plant is «Narcissus jonquilla», in fact the daffodil is part of the Narcissus genus. Let’s keep in mind though if all daffodils are daffodils not all daffodils are daffodils. Sometimes the name «daffodil» is also used for the similar «Narcissus tazetta», with which it has in common its diffusion in southern Europe, but there is a color difference between the two types, as in the latter the crown is yellow with red edges and the perigonium is white.

GROWING JUNKILLE

Daffodils are rather resistant flowers, they rarely get sick and do not require assiduous care. They are also very versatile, as they adapt without difficulty both in flowerbeds, in borders, in gardens and even in pots! Using them as elements of floral compositions is simple, in fact the daffodil manages to give that essential touch of color in every situation!

THE PLANTING

The ideal period to plant your daffodil bulb, whether in open ground or in a pot, is autumn. The bulbs should be planted at a depth of about 2-3cm and spaced at least 20cm apart. Of course, if you want to have a nice colored vase you can also reduce the distances.

LAND

The daffodil prefers soft, not too fertilized and well-drained soil (it is in fact vulnerable to water stagnation).

EXPOSURE

Loves direct sunlight and, especially during flowering, it needs it greatly. On the contrary, during vegetative rest, it is good practice to move the pots (naturally if you have chosen this type of arrangement) to an area of ​​partial shade. Otherwise, if moving the daffodils is not an option then it is best to place them immediately, in an area sheltered from the wind and not too sunny.

WATERING

Daffodils don’t need to drink that muchindeed, it is an aspect that we must pay close attention to if we do not want them to die. During flowering and on the hottest days they should be watered daily, but in winter it is definitely better to limit the water to avoid unpleasant consequences. To understand when water should be given just look at the soil, if it appears dry then it’s time!

FERTILIZATION

During the flowering period and immediately after, therefore in spring and summer, it is recommended fertilize the flowers with fertilizers low in nitrogen and rich in phosphorus and potassium. This type of fertilizer will intensify the color and scent, fantastic, right?

PRUNING

Nothing difficult in this field, it is in fact sufficient to remove the flowers and dry leaves so as to leave the plant thinner and lighter.

THE SYMBOLISM OF THE JUNKILLE

With such a bright and cheerful color one cannot help but immediately attribute a very positive meaning to the daffodil. Indeed these beautiful flowers strongly symbolize luck and happiness. This is very much linked to their flowering which occurs, in style, in early spring. It is in fact one of the first flowers to «see the light» as soon as spring begins to warm the earth.

There is a small distinction to make, in fact, if you want to give these flowers to someone, the meaning varies depending on the number. With a bouquet you will wish good luck, wealth and joy. With just one flower, however, you will confess the loving desire you feel!

THE JUNKILLE IN MYTH

“While far from Demeter with the golden sword that gives the splendid harvests, she played with the young Oceanides with ample breasts and gathered flowers, roses, crocuses and violets, in a tender meadow, irises, hyacinths and also the narcissus which by deception the Earth made grow for the child, fresh as a corolla, according to the designs of Zeus, to please Him who receives many guests.

The flower shone with a marvelous splendor and struck with amazement all those who saw it, immortal Gods and mortal men. From its root had grown a stem with a hundred heads and at the scent of this sphere of flowers, all the great Heaven from above smiled and all the earth the acrid swell of the sea wave. Surprised, the little girl stretched out her arms together to take on the beautiful game, but the land of vast paths opened up in the Nisian plain and the lord of many guests arose with his immortal horses, the Cronide invoked under many names. He took her and, despite her resistance, dragged her in tears onto his golden chariot.»

HYMH, Hymn to Demeter, 4-20

Well yes. In myth and art this flower is found very often indeed. Of course, not really the daffodil in particular but its species: the daffodils.

We’ve all heard of the myth of Narcissus, but there’s so much more beneath the surface!

For example, for the ancient Romans the narcissus was the flower that grew luxuriantly in Elysian Fields of Paradise. For the Druids, however, it was a symbol of purity and, for the Jews, it was the image of female beauty and fertility.

We also find this flower in the East, where in Chinese tradition, thanks to its coincidence with the New Year, it represents the perfect wish for prosperity and good luck for the new year.

But now we come to the passage we mentioned earlier. It tells us about a wonderful but misleading flower, located on the surface that divides the realm of the living from that of the dead. A clue is given to us by the name of the flower «narcissus», in fact it derives from «narkè», the same origin as the word «narcosis». They are in fact blocked as a symbol of a deep sleep similar to death. When Hades, god of the dead, in love with Persephone, decides to kidnap her to take her with him to the Underworld, it is precisely the beauty of the narcissus that attracts her.

No dark thoughts however, if it is true that in the myth this flower has a rather marked ambivalence between positive and negative, it is good to know that it is usually the positive aspect that prevails or in any case manages to balance itself with the negative.

We still have a lot to say, but let’s also leave something for the article dedicated to daffodils, where perhaps we will see something linked to the figure of the beautiful Narcissus!

THE JUNCHIL, FLOWER OF BERLIN

As we told you at the beginning, this flower is linked to Berlin. It is in fact one of the best-selling German flowers in the world and can be seen growing in many fields in Teutonic territory.

It is a flower that binds extremely well with the figure of Germany, its myth fits in profoundly with what this nation has been and is today.

What’s better? As we were saying, every person has their own destination and every destination has its own flower and this does not end once the journey is over because all the experiences we have had, in some more or less marked way, become part of us. Then our flower is no longer the impatience of a journey but a sweet memory. Its scent brings to mind those days extraordinarily out of the ordinary.

What’s better than being able to surround yourself with a perfume that brings our adventures with it?