Can you hear the daffodils?

Kim Kovach

On a recent sunny afternoon, I walked around my neighborhood searching for signs of spring.

I spotted one bright yellow daffodil plant blooming proudly in a patch of dirt on the side of the road. The six bell-shaped yellow daffodil heads facing in different directions stood tall on their green stems. Up ahead, the yellow blossoms of a forsythia bush beckoned me to continue walking. Those brilliant yellow flowering plants amidst the bare tree branches and brownish grass are always the first to let us know that the cold and snow of winter is finally over and the world is ready to wake up and turn colorful again.

Did you know that the daffodil, one of the spring flowering perennial plants in the genus Narcissus, is part of the amaryllis family, which also includes the jonquil? We all have that one friend who can’t resist preening in front of any mirror or who always stops in front of a store window to admire his or her own reflection. We often associate the term Narcissist with extreme self-absorption, ego and obsession with oneself.

The daffodil gets its name from the ancient Greek myth about a handsome young man named Narcissus who rebuffed the attentions of those he did not find beautiful. When he was 16 years old, Narcissus had been hunting with friends and got lost in the woods.

As the myth relates, Narcissus became thirsty and found a clear pool of water. Leaning down to take a drink of water, Narcissus saw his own reflection, which appeared as beautiful as a marble statue. Not realizing that he was looking at himself, Narcissus fell deeply in love with the person in the water. Unable to leave the allure of this gorgeous image, Narcissus waited for days and days for the reflection to emerge from the water. Eventually, Narcissus died of unrequited love and starvation where he stood, head bending down towards his own reflection in the water. A gold and white narcissus flower — daffodil — bloomed in his place.

Daffodils have large flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted by a trumpet-shaped corona. The flowers are usually bright yellow with a yellow center or yellow with an orange center or white with a yellow center. Daffodils symbolize renewal, rebirth and new beginnings, serving as nature’s announcement of spring. Daffodils are associated with hope, joy and good fortune, as well. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales. Many cancer organizations use the daffodil image to represent cancer awareness and hope for a cure.

Pulling into the parking lot at the Lewisboro Library the following day, I noticed the cheerful display of yellow daffodils planted as part of the Lewisboro Garden Club’s “Golden Roads” program. This roadside beautification project has planted thousands of daffodil bulbs around Lewisboro for years, creating groupings of happy yellow daffodils along roadsides and in front of town buildings.

If you stop in front of a glorious display of yellow, orange and white daffodils standing tall on a breezy spring day, you can almost hear the daffodils whispering, “Hey, look at me!”

Here’s a fun fact: Scientists have recorded plants producing airborne sounds in response to lack of water or having their stems damaged. Plants make noise by emitting high-frequency ultrasonic clicks when stressed, dehydrated or cut. While inaudible to humans, these sounds can be captured, indicating that the plant is in distress. Some plants also make audible noises when rustling in the wind.

Kim Kovach encourages readers to observe, listen to and smell the flowers while appreciating the beauty of nature! You can visit her website at kimkovachwrites.com.