In the Garden, Spring


Welcoming The Daffodils

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Daffodils, those “harbingers of spring,” delight us with their welcome, cheery color. In addition to this asset, they provide a dressing up of landscapes and residences, affording a new look at a scene that you may have driven by many times before. One beautiful case in point is the home of a friend whose gardening talents are notable. Her historic 1882 home by architects Peabody and Stearns is a masterpiece that well shows off her efforts during every season…as in the feature image above. The daffodils cover the entirety of a large oval island in the center of the cobblestone entry courtyard. Their serenity of pure white, mixed selectively with yellow and white tulips, is a well considered foil to the red brick and intricate details of the shingle style architecture.

Across the courtyard, yellow daffodils tumble down a slope where an ancient beech tree reigns.

White daffodils also serve to call out the washed brick of this charming Newport cottage.

While a Colonial home’s lawn offers the accent of a large bed of pachysandra where daffodils pop up in clusters.

Landscapes provide many opportunities to enjoy our April flower, here at an entrance gate

or paired with the other well known April flower, forsythia, for a shock of yellow for passersby.

And lastly, a Walt Whitman vision…”ten thousand saw I at a glance, tossing their heads in sprightly dance”…under the sleeping boughs of Newport’s old trees.

Wishing you all a colorful spring…

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About Bettie Bearden Pardee

Author of Private Newport and Living Newport, garden furniture designer (The Parterre Bench), national lecturer, and entertaining expert. An honoree for the second year on "The Salonniere 100 America's Best Party Hosts", she was also the host and creative producer of "The Presidential Palate: Entertaining at the White House".

9 thoughts on “Welcoming The Daffodils

  1. You had me with the first two photos – simply stunning! Happy May Bettie – thank you again for sharing the beauty!

  2. Should we go “chasing daffodils” for our next trip? I love Spring’s “Midas touch!”

  3. Daffy-down-dilly has come to town, in a yellow petticoat and a green gown!

  4. My tete a tete daffodils have finished for the season but are happily “bunched” with fragrant white and blue hyacinths that are still in bloom. This is such a lovely time of the year when “hope springs eternal” through spring-flowering bulbs and perennials and blossoming trees. Your daffodil photos embrace the season of Spring beautifully. As a side note, that wrought iron gate with the ship medallion is so majestic!

  5. LOVELY LADY,
    YOUR DELIGHTFUL PHOTOS OF THE MASSIVE ASSEMBLAGE OF DAFFODILS BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF MY YOUTH.
    AS A HUSKY, SIX FOOT, RESOURCEFUL TWELVE YEAR OLD MALE, IT WAS MY GOOD LUCK TO CADDIE AT A PRIVATE GOLF COURSE ON LONG ISLAND.
    ONE OF MY FAVORITE ‘SPOTS’ WAS THE APPROACH TO THE FOURTH GREEN.
    FLANKING THE GREEN WERE, BANKS UPON BANKS, BLANKETING EITHER SIDE,
    WITH THE MOST GLORIOUS DAFFODILS, SIMPLY AWAITING OUR PASSING.
    YOUR PHOTOS ALLOWED THAT ‘SENIOR’ (MOI) TO RECALL A TREASURED MOMENT.
    MERCI BUCKETS!
    TOM

  6. Many thanks for capturing so well the beauty of daffodils in Newport. I’ve been sharing with family and favorite gardeners 🌷
    Susan

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