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March 27th 2018

Celebrating Spring in Skagit Valley

Written by
Floret

Skagit Valley’s famed tulip fields are about to burst into a rainbow of color all around the valley. Every year over a million people from around the world flock to this region to witness the beauty and take part in the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

If you ever have the opportunity to experience this incredible show firsthand, you won’t be disappointed. If you want to make a day of it, I suggest that you come on a weekday, enjoy a farm to table lunch in the shade of Washington’s oldest beech tree at Seeds Bistro in La Conner, set aside a couple of hours to check out the hellebores, garden roses and other amazing plant offerings at Christianson’s Nursery & Greenhouse and then pop into either the Red Door Antique Mall and Snow Goose Produce on your way out of town. 

Floret Flower Farm Tulip Field

Here on the farm, our own little flower festival is underway. The daffodils are putting on a spectacular show and our tulips aren’t far behind. We planted 100 new trial varieties last fall, so the next few weeks will be filled with lots of note and photo taking as we narrow down the list of top performing favorites.

freshly harvested daffodils from the garden

After many months of gray winter days, seeing the cheery creamy white and yellow blooms are always a welcome sign of spring.

Floret Flower Farm daffodil field

Yet, when you say daffodil in relation to floral or landscape design, some people cringe. Perhaps it is because they can only envision big, bright yellow trumpet bells. But trust me, there is a world of beauty beyond the common cultivars like King Alfred. Daffodils come in so many incredible shapes, forms, scents and sizes.

Specialty daffodil varieties

Narcissus and daffodils are such great flowers because they are easy to grow, will thrive in either sun or part shade, can bloom for many years and can multiply. As an added bonus, deer (and most other varmints) will steer clear of them, which is a huge consideration for many gardeners. These hardy, reliable blooms are a staple of the early spring cut flower garden.

Specialty daffodil varieties from Floret Flower Farm

A few of my faves include:

Top row: ‘Delnashaugh’, ‘Sir Winston Churchill’, ‘Tahiti’ and ‘Yellow Cheerfulness’

Bottom Row: ‘Pink Charm’, ‘Petit Four’, ‘Flower Drift’ and ‘Orangery’

Here on the farm we’re so happy that flowers are back in our lives. We can’t wait to share the beauty this season. Happy Spring!

11 Comments

  1. Kathy James on

    I love the beautiful flowers, amazing colors, and just simply beauty. This is where I would love to spend next March 2019

    Reply
  2. Mary-Jean Hunt on

    Hi! I am so excited that most of the seed I purchased from you has germinated and so far so good. My one question is how do I keep the Bachelor Button Classic Magic from flopping over? Is there something I can do now while they are seedlings?
    Thank you

    Reply
  3. Rene' Thorne on

    Greetings Team Floret! This is my first post. As with so many before me, I must start with a HUGE thanks for all of the information, photos, and inspiration you share. I bought the book last year, have tried to read every past blog, and am totally hooked. Quick question about daffs. Do you have designated beds/rows for them that then cannot be used for the rest of the season because you leave the bulbs in the ground? Do you eventually left and spread them?

    Reply
  4. Corina Sahlin on

    As you know, we’re about three weeks behind you up here in Marblemount. A few daffs are poking their heads through. Nettles are coming up. I’m making nettle pesto for dinner!
    I was thinking about you and your kids a lot today, remembering the times when we used to hang out up here, tromping through the woods with them. Feeling nostalgic today!

    Reply
  5. Amy on

    I have read post after post in the blog and I am absolutely in love with your book! I preordered it last year and couldn’t wait for it to come. Thank you for so much valuable information! What do you do with the daffodil bulbs after they are pulled for harvest? Can they be planted again for the following year?

    Reply
    • Team Floret on

      Hi Amy, we don’t pull the daffodil bulbs when harvesting, just the tulip bulbs (which we then compost, as they do not produce well enough the second year).

  6. Elizabeth on

    Can you say a bit about when you cut daffodils? I find that the type with heavy, ruffled heads just put their heads in the dirt when it rains. I plant in groups of about 7 bulbs, and it’s not enough that the foliage holds up all the flowers.

    Reply
  7. Cheryl Mandler on

    I have always loved the old fashioned narcissus and in the fall of 2016 planted 100 narcissus “Poeticus”. This May we were hiking in the French Alps near LaGrave and hiked through acres and acres of wild poeticus. Couldn’t believe they grew wild and confirmed the name by seeing it on a postcard of white Wildflowers.

    Reply
  8. Leslie Emanuels on

    I love how you share your favorites! Thank you for being so generous with your wisdom.
    It’s cold here and supposed to snow on Easter but I have been starting what my husband calls my “babies”. I have your Cut Flower book open and am following the directions diligently for starting seeds inside. I’m so excited! They are starting to pop up and grow!
    Thank you. Thank you.

    Reply

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