Fair warning, northerners: you’ll have to forgive me for bringing up the touchy subject of warm weather. I know it seems like I’m teasing your patience with the far-off return of shorts and sandals, food trucks, and musty coats gone to closet, especially with the chilly stuff still ahead of us; the leaves have hardly given an autumn shrug, much less an autumn change. But when it comes to New York’s official flower–the daffodil–even standing at snow’s door step is a good time to talk about next spring’s blossoms!

Actually, it’s the best of times.

On Thursday, October 11, the NYBG not only celebrates a Garden tradition that dates back nearly a century, but recognizes how that tradition finds new meaning in recent years. Daffodil Hill has remained the spring pride of this organization since the early 20th century, when thousands of white and buttermilk yellow blooms would wake to send off winter with carpets of sunny color. And they still do! Daffodils, being perennials, are a hardy lot that bounces back year after year, often with more flowers to boast than the spring before. In the years following 9/11, the species came to represent the resilience and beauty of the people of New York–so much so that Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially recognized the daffodil as the flower of New York City in 2007. As a symbol of remembrance, the daffodil has been planted in the millions throughout the five boroughs, brightening parks in Manhattan just as they bunch around street trees in Brooklyn.
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Daffodil Hill heads into summer with an air of Little House on the Prairie, I think. But no running through the fields, please–not even with overalls on.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Daffodil Hill likes to leap between the colors of the spectrum around now. It’s only getting that much better each day.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Next year, instead of planting the majestic beauty that is Daffodil Hill, we’re going to plant one single daffodil, and call it Daffodil Frill. Just kidding! Happy April Fool’s Day friends!

Daffodil Frill (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils

– William Wordsworth

It’s never too early for pastoral verse. Even the overtly mushy kind.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Can you believe that this is smack dab in the middle of the Bronx?

Daffodil Hill in Summer (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)

In the Azalea Garden

Wamsler Rock

Daffodil Hill

Photos by Ivo M. Vermeulen

It is beautiful here today. Just in case you can’t make it out of your office to hop a train and come up to the Bronx, I thought I’d take a walk and snap some pictures for you. It’s more than just beautiful out, too. According to one birder I met today, it’s also prime warbler migrating time. As he put it, the next two weeks will be “warbler heaven.” So whether you’re a birder, photographer, gardener, or walker, now is the time to come and visit the Garden!

It is prime time for taking flower pictures at the Garden. So grab your camera and come visit!

Magnolia Way: just a few more days, and all this gorgeousness will be gone.

The "beach" house is set amid a sea of muscari in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden.

So much more below including cherry blossoms, incredible tulips, and the amazing Rock Garden.