Posted by: hannaheath on 03/16/2008 04:48 PM
Updated by: hannaheath on 03/16/2008 04:50 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Yellow Blooms Line the Road into Ironstone Vineyards for Daffodil Days ~By Hanna Heath
Murphys, CA…. Ironstone Vineyards was in full bloom for Daffodil Days 2008, this weekend. The yellow celebration included food, wine, art and thousands of daffodils. Ironstone has 14 acres of approximately 500,000 daffodils in bloom during this time of year, creating a yellow field of blooms along the road into the vineyards and winery….
   
“Right now the winery is 90% in bloom,” shared master gardener Larry Ringland. The daffodils have created an absolutely beautiful backdrop for photos and afternoon picnics. After speaking with Larry he shared, “We plant a total of 36 tons of flowers including daffodils, tulips, and wild flowers. We have 200 different types of daffodils, and 96 different types of tulips.”
The daffodil bloom graces the label of the Obsession wine that was celebrated during the “Spring Obsession” event two weeks ago. Hundreds of unusual daffodil varieties, along with artistic and creative flower arrangement amazed visitors for the Northern California Daffodil Societies annual daffodil show. Many locals from our area entered their grown daffodils in ten different varieties, filling the heritage room from wall to wall.
Daffodils are some of the most popular of spring-blooming garden plants. Grown from a bulb planted in autumn or spring, daffodils are known for their yellow or white, cup and saucer shaped blossoms over long green leaves. While casual daffodil growers choose plants for their color and style, they may not know that there are ten different daffodil divisions.
Different categories include:
Daffodil Division - Trumpet Cultivars
Trumpet cultivars get their name from the shape of the cup that bursts forth from the circle of petals surrounding it. The cup has a long cylinder shape before it curves outward with a ruffle edge. The trumpet is often as long as the petals.
Daffodil Division - Large-Cupped Cultivars
This is a common type of daffodil. Each large flower features a prominent cup, often in a contrasting color to the petals that surround it. The cups are one third or more the size of each flower petal.
Daffodil Division - Small-Cupped Cultivars
Small cupped daffodils bloom one per stem, and have the classic flower shape. What sets these apart is the small size of the cup: no more than one-third the length of each petal.
Daffodil Division - Double Cultivars
This type of daffodil lacks a pronounced cup. They have double layers of petals and a ruffle appearance. The cup is often reduced to a pom pom type effect of curled petals.
Daffodil Division - Triandrus Cultivars
One of the latest blooming daffodil varieties, triandrus feature smaller blooms and multiple flowers per stalk.
Daffodil Division - Cyclamineus Cultivars
Like the popular plant, cyclamen, this type of daffodil has petals that sweep backward away from the pronounced cup. These are usually hardy varieties.
Daffodil Division - Jonquilla Cultivars
This short type of daffodil, or jonquil, bears three flowers on each stem. They have small cups and petals, and usually droop on narrow stems that bend with the weight of the blossom.
Daffodil Division - Tazetta Cultivars
This is one of the daffodil varieties that have multiple blooms per stalk. Each flower is smaller than classic daffodil types. They come in all shades of yellow, orange, and white.
Daffodil Division - Poeticus Cultivars
Just outside the heritage room was a brass quartet that played a variety of blues songs creating a relaxing feel to the event. Along with music, flowers and wine, Ironstone had a daffodil presentation given by Nancy Tacket with the Northern California Daffodil Society, Parking lot sale with many t-shirts and wine for $2.50 per bottle, and a classical Ironstone BBQ.
Ironstone will continue to be in bloom for the next couple of weeks, in two weeks the colorful tulips should be in full bloom creating a colorful scenery.
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