Jonquil, Daffodil or Narcissus?

 

Jonquil, Daffodil or Narcissus?

The common botanical name for all these lovely spring flowers is Narcissus.

Daffodils may be perfumed, but their scent is delicate and, to my nose, green. They have one flower per stem. They come in many shades, from white, through yellow to peach and pink. Often their trumpets are a brighter colour.

Jonquils are strongly perfumed and carry many flowers on each stem. They are seen in all shades of yellow and the trumpets, or corona, are shorter than in daffodils, but, like them, contrast with the outer petals.

Although daffodils and jonquils are both classified as narcissus, they are different species. Nonetheless, they will probably always be referred to as ‘daffodils,’ glorious harbingers of spring.

 I noticed a bent stem of jonquils in the garden and brought it into the house. It smelt wonderful. My photographic skills do not do it justice, and there is no way of capturing the scent, but I think it is beautiful. 

Today's Flowers #133

Spring is creeping forth and revealing her new season's colours

Crocuses

Tête-a-tête daffodils

Thank you to the Today's Flowers team who organise this colourful weekly meme. Click here to see more flowers around the world.

First frog and a foolish butterfly

Yesterday, St David's Day, started with a heavy frost and blue, blue skies. It was a wonderful day – brisk, bright and surprisingly warm in the sun though had the wind been blowing it would have felt very cold. Today started in similar vein and the weather forecasters are predicting that we will have several more dry, clear days. In celebration of that I have chosen a Spring-like colour for this post, though it will probably be impossible to read.
Yesterday there were many flies in the forest, most of them intent on settling in my hair and just now I saw my first butterfly of 2010 in our garden. It was yellow – more lemon yellow than primrose but it didn't settle so I couldn't photograph it. I'm sure it's much too early for butterflies to be out and about so I fear it is destined for a short life unless it can find a warm place to rest. While I was outside I glanced into the pond in time to see a frog swimming into the safety of the depths. This was the first frog I have seen this year – usually they're busy quite early in February. Like our daffodils, however, they are late to appear this Spring.

March 1st – St David’s Day

Welsh flag, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

March 1^st is St David's Day.
St David (Dewi Sant) is the patron saint of Wales and all across the principality proud Welsh men and women will be wearing daffodils or leeks, the national symbols of Wales.

Many girls and young women also dress in national costume on St David's Day.

Young Welsh schoolgirls in traditional costume. Photograph courtesy of and copyright of Mike Kelly

Dewi was the grandson of Ceredig, King of Cerdigion (Cardigan) As a young man he undertook a pilgrimage through South Wales and the west of England and is believed to have established a religious centre in Glastonbury in Somerset. He also went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he was appointed archbishop.Eventually he returned to Wales, making his home in St David's (Glyn Rhosyn) where he founded a very austere religious community. He was said to have performed many miracles and was canonised in 1120 after which St David's Cathedral became a focus for pilgrimage.
St David died on March 1st, 589.