Asian Tulips | Beautiful Flower For Your Life !

The Greek woodland nymph Echo, unable to verbalize her love for Narcissus, waited longingly for her beloved to recognize and embrace her devotion. As Narcissus admired his beauty in the water, Echo waited, wasting away until she became nothing but an echo in the distant mountains. The other woodland nymphs demanded retribution for her unrequitted love and sought the counsel of Zeus who agreed with their plight and reduced Narcissus to a spring-blooming ephemeral white flower.

The flower would be his namesake, Narcissus, also known as the daffodil or jonquil. It is said that the flower, in its downward tilt, is reminiscent of Narcissus as he sat gazing into the pond.
Others say the name derives from the Greek word narke, meaning to benumb, for its narcotic properties. Although it is native to southern Europe and northern Africa, it has the uncanny ability to adapt to most climates and quickly naturalize.

While all parts of the plant are poisonous, the bulb is the most toxic. It contains lycorine, an alkaloid known for its ability to induce vomiting and gastrointestinal cramping. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) includes it among its list of plants toxic to cats and dogs. Symptoms of poisoning in animals include diarrhea, vomiting, salivation and, in extreme cases, convulsions and cardiac arrhythmias.

Toxicity is not limited to animals, however. In the majority of documented cases, narcissus bulbs were mistaken for onions. In May 2009, a group of children from Gorseland Primary School in Suffolk, England, harvested onions from their school garden that were to be added to a recipe for a cooking class. A narcissus bulb found its way into the soup and wasn’t discovered until several of the children began vomiting while others complained of stomach cramps. Twelve children were taken to hospital and released later that day.

Throughout Greek mythology, narcissus was synonomous with death and loss. The American Cancer Society, as well as cancer organizations across the globe, have adopted its image for “Daffodil Days,” transforming it into a symbol of hope.

Narcissus bulbs have a small, flat, round base plate where the roots will emerge.  Sometimes this is smooth; other times it has root buds or hairy gray roots.  Plant the bulbs with this part pointing down.
Many fall bulbs are ideal for naturalizing, which means planting them outside a formal flower bed.  Narcissi or daffodils are especially suited for this because they don’t taste good to wildlife.  Late fall is the best time for naturalizing, after the grass has started to die back, so that you can easily reach the soil in a yard or forest.  (You may also enjoy my earlier posts on planting fall bulbs, crocus, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.)

This year I bought a big bag of assorted narcissus bulbs.  These will produce bunches of small yellow or white flowers in spring.  The front of the package shows what the flowers will look like and how many bulbs there are.

The back of the package gives planting instructions.  Remember these are for a bed.  You might want to plant naturalized bulbs a little farther apart and use more random spacing.  The usual depth for narcissus bulbs is 4-6 inches apart in holes 4-6 inches deep.

Narcissus bulbs are smaller than daffodils.  They have a pointy top, sometimes extending into a long neck.  Plant them with this part pointing up.

Here you can see a side view of several narcissus bulbs.  These are all different kinds and will bear different styles of flower in the spring.  They are covered with a papery tunic.  It’s okay if this falls off, but don’t peel it off deliberately — it helps to protect the bulbs.This bulb is a double one.  Narcissus often appear this way; it’s one method by which they reproduce.  When mature, double bulbs can be separated carefully and then replanted.  Each half will grow into a complete plant, identical to the parent.For naturalizing bulbs, you need a trowel and a pair of garden gloves.  The gloves are especially important with this type of gardening, as they protect your hands from sharp grass blades, splintery wood chips, and other hazards you might not find in a carefully groomed garden bed.Choose a place where the spring flowers will look nice.  You may scatter them through the yard or plant them around trees.  I decided to plant a ring around the base of this maple tree.Fill in the hole and smooth down the dirt.  If you have leaves or bark mulch, add that after filling the hole.  Water the bulbs if you’re not expecting rain.