Last year I experimented with daffodils and I achieved over 8 weeks of color by combining only 4 varieties. All are prolific multipliers, easy-to-grow, prolific bloomers and excellent naturalizers. In a more normal season I would expect 6 weeks of color. First to bloom was February Gold (early). Last year it actually bloomed in February, instead of early March as it usually does in Maryland. Then came Mary Bohannon (early mid season) and followed by Accent (late mid season). The season closed out in late April with Actaea (late). As with all narcissi, they were untouched by either rodents or deer.

For a limited time we are offering these 4 varieties of daffodils in our 8 Weeks of Color Daffodil Combination. You receive 5 of each variety: February Gold, Mary Bohannon, Accent and Actaea for $28.85.

February Gold: Pure golden yellow flowers with slightly swept- back petals and long slender cups having tiny frills at the end. They are true harbingers of spring. The earliest of all narcissi. Very early. Height 12"

Mary Bohannon: Unlike most daffodils which hang their heads in a classic narcissus pose, Mary Bohannon looks right up at you. Yellow overlapping petals stand out straight and strong as a background for the nearly trumpet-shaped cups, frilled and slightly flared, with a clear, deep reddish orange color that does not fade. Early midseason. Height 16"

Accent: Pure white, star-shaped petals carry rich salmon pink cups, almost trumpet-like in their proportions, deeply fluted, slightly flared and ruffled at the edges. Just about the most fade-resistant of the pink-cupped narcissi. Exhibition quality blooms and, like all of our selections, a vigorous grower. U.S bred. Late midseason-Late. Height 14"

Actaea: Classic blooms of purest white with dogwood-shaped petals and tiny flaring yellow cups, green at the center, edged in red. A fragrant "pheasant’s eye" type. Late-Very late. Height 16"

Since the late 1800's, the Germans have been known for making beautiful ornaments of the highest quality. In fact, they invented the glass Christmas tree ornament. The tradition actually began in the Thuringian mountains of central Germany by peasant families. Typically, the father heated glass and blew the glass into different shapes. The other family members applied silver to the inside of the ornaments to help reflect the light. After drying overnight by being hung from the cottage ceiling, the ornaments were decorated with lacquer and other accents such as feathers, glitter and ‘'snow'' sparkles. The process was further refined to include the use of molds to help shape the hot glass into various figures. These antique figural glass ornaments achieved their height of popularity about 100 years ago and are the most sought after of all the antique German glass tree ornaments.

German immigrants coming to America brought with them their glass ornaments and cherished them as part of their heritage. The ornaments from our Old German Christmas Collection are made from mouth blown and hand-painted glass in keeping with the age-old, family-craft traditions. Perhaps you remember them from your grandmother's tree, or you're lucky enough to have a few treasured survivors passed along to you. Now you too can add cherished, heirloom quality ornaments to your collection at very affordable prices. They are great for gifts too!

Click here to view the ornaments in the Old German Christmas Collection.