For most of us, fall is starting to arrive—cooler temperatures, maybe even the threat of frost. It’s time to say goodbye to the summer annuals and time to start thinking about next spring. Gardeners are always such forward-thinking people! No sooner does one season arrive than we’re already thinking about the one after it, or even the one after that. And of course, fall is the time when we start sticking bulbs in the ground for an over-the-top spring display. I’ve been going through my photos from springs in the past, thinking about what I want to plant more of this fall, and I thought I’d share some of my favorite daffodils. Did your bulbs look good this past spring? Or did you take any pictures of bulb displays you want to recreate in your own garden? Send us some pictures to share! And get some ideas on designing with spring bulbs here.

My all-time favorite daffodil is without a doubt the elegant, pure white ‘Thalia’ (Narcissus ‘Thalia’, Zones 3–8), featured above. It is a later bloomer and always wraps up the daffodil season in fine style. Each stem produces multiple flowers for an incredible display, and each blossom is so refined and perfect it gives me chills.

At the other end of the daffodil season, one of the earliest daffodils I’ve grown is ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ (Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’, Zones 3–8). It has large, classic-yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms, and this is a picture I took on January 20 last year—in Virginia! In colder climates it won’t bloom quite so early, but it is always one of the very first to bloom, and what a perfect way to ring in the arrival of spring.

I love the classic hybrid daffodils, but some of the miniature species are my favorites. The hoop-petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium, Zones 3–8) is tiny, less than 6 inches tall, and perfect. Put it in a raised bed or container where you can really enjoy the graceful little flowers.

Another miniature bloomer is the cyclamen-flowered daffodil (Narcissus cyclamineus, Zones 3–8), which holds its petals swept back behind the bloom.

Taller and late blooming, the poet’s narcissus (Narcissus poeticus, Zones 3–8) is vigorous, long-lived, beautiful, and fragrant. What more could you want?

Have a garden you’d like to share?

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