Day of the Daffodils

Daffodill Hill is a 4-acre farm located in Amador County California which opens a few weeks each spring, from mid-March to mid-April. It's only a short drive from Stockton, which is where I live, but I'd never been there! So, with camera in hand, it was time for a visit to the daffodils.

Or jonquils, which is what my wife calls them. It's her favorite flower and they had starring roles in our wedding!

For the nature nerds out there (like me), the botanic name for the daffodil is Narcissus, which has an interesting history. In Greek mythology, a beautiful young dude named Narcissus became so obsessed with his own reflection as he kneeled and gazed into a pool of water, that he fell into the water and drowned. The legend continues that the first Narcissus flower sprang from where he died.

There's another legend that says the flower is named after its narcotic properties (narcotic = Narcissus). Yep, it will get you high. Swear. So kids, stay in school and don't do flowers!

Seriously, this is one beautiful place - here are some facts from the very friendly & helpful volunteers:
- the hill is carpeted with over 300,000 flowers
- over 300 varieties of dafordils are on on display
- volunteers plant over 6,000 new bulbs each spring
- each spring, the farm attacts thousands of visitors from around the world

My impression of Daffodil Hill? Wow, just wow. Now I'll let the photos do the splaining...

“This very moment is a seed from which the flowers of tomorrow's happiness grow.”
~ Margaret Lindsey