The Cheerfulness of Narcissus

The Cheerfulness of Narcissus, April , 2023.

Daffodils have never been a flower I cared much for. Personally, I don’t find them a good fit for a romantic cottage garden- kind of bright and silly looking. So, it has always been a hard pass on the vibrant daffodil for our garden. And then last year I became acquainted with another much more pleasing member of the Narcissus family. One day I spotted a table of petite, frilly, and creamy miniature daffodils. Bending down to inhale them, I was overwhelmed! What were these intoxicatingly delicious and gardenia-like scented flowers? Their name was Cheerfulness. Two pots of Cheerfulness went home to Hidden Bluff that day. When they were done blooming, they were cut down and the bulbs saved and planted out front that autumn. Eagerly, we waited for the heavenly-scented narcissus to bloom the next Spring.

The Cheerfulness of Narcissus

Pliny the Elder titled this flower family with the name Narcissus, a figure in Greek mythology who fell in love with himself. Standing tall and proud one can see the confidence of these flowers. Maybe that’s part of my aversion to daffodils? The Cheerfulness variety, however, are more subdued and friendly- softer. They are an heirloom flower that date back to 1923. Additionally, Cheerfulness are a double flower variety which accounts for their frilly appearance. Easy to grow, they flourish is sun and part shade. Plant bulbs in the fall allowing a few inches of space between each.

One delightful thing I have learned about Narcissus is that they repel squirrels. Squirrels have been my bane since moving to Hidden Bluff doing no small damage to the garden. They are already starting to dig up the tulip bulbs. But of course, we will allow the Cheerfulness to multiply and spread just to deter the overly ambitious squirrels. And hopefully, my tiny, pretty ladies will shoo those squirrels right out of the garden.

Cheerfulness Narcissus are companionable and naturalize well in the garden. They prefer some depth, so plant bulbs several inches down (3 times the bulb size), yet they look well in sociable clumps, reminiscent of a group of ladies sipping their afternoon tea together. If desired, divide clumps after they are done blooming when the foliage is dying. And while Cheerfulness may look tender and dainty they assuredly are quite resilient, tolerating some cold.

Spring came and so did the Cheerfulness. They are now flowering out front. There is a refinement to them. They are quite ladylike with their tall straight backs and petticoat-like blooms with heads that hang a bit as if saying “don’t peek underneath”. Today they are covered in raindrops, but look no less lovely or refined with large drops dripping off their curled petals. They are a lovely addition to the Hidden Bluff cottage garden!

Have a beautiful day!