Press release
GLORIOUS DAFFODIL DISPLAY AT THE VALLEY GARDENS
25 January 2008
One of horticulture’s best kept secrets is on the brink of revealing itself again this spring. A glorious display of naturalised daffodils in the Valley Gardens, part of The Royal Landscape in Windsor Great Park, will be in flower during March and April. From humble beginnings, with a scattering of bulbs and seeds, the carpet of flowers has spread spectacularly to become probably the largest of its kind in England. Three species of daffodil – Narcissus pseudonarcissus, Narcissus bulbocodium and Narcissus cyclamineus – make up the display. In the nearby Savill Garden a smaller, counterpart planting of daffodils also includes crocus and fritillaries.
Keeper of the Gardens Mark Flanagan says: “We have the most magnificent display of daffodils in England here at The Royal Landscape. This year’s show of daffodils will be stunning and will mark the beginning of the unrivalled spring flower season in the Savill and Valley Gardens. Daffodil valley, to be found in the heart of the Valley Gardens, is a breathtaking spectacle that never fails to delight. On a more intimate scale The Savill Garden boasts a similar display in the daffodil meadow.”
Head of the Valley Gardens Graham Sanderson explains: “The daffodil valley marks the start of our spring season and is followed by a welter of early flowers – magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and Japanese cherries – which provide the visitor with stunning associations. The original planting of daffodils by Hope Findlay cleverly turns what would have been simple grassy vistas in the Valley Gardens into a blaze of colour. Most of the large areas contain Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the lent lily (and the daffodil of Wordsworth's famous poem), largest of the three daffodil varieties. Narcissus bulbocodium, the hoop petticoat daffodil, is a trumpet shape and grows in the finer grass areas. Narcissus cyclamineus is small and deep yellow in colour with swept back petals and grows on the edge of wet ditches and boggy areas. The daffodils provide their brilliant colour for three to four weeks, flowering almost in sequence to keep the display going.
“Hope Findlay’s original concept for the Valley Gardens was to have areas of long grass that were cut by hand using a scythe in June each year. We manage the area in much the same way today using modern machinery that not only collects the arisings but scatters the seed. This produces small seedlings in the first year, growth in the second year and flowers in the third year. Over many years daffodil valley has also provided seeds which have helped to establish spring displays in other gardens.
In The Savill Garden, the daffodil meadow can be found in the glades area – an open, sunny site. All three species of daffodil are represented and are preceded by the flowers of Crocus tomasinianus and followed by the striking native bulb snake’s head fritillary. As in the Valley Gardens the meadows are cut annually, once the bulbs have shed their leaves and stems have withered back naturally.
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