Lilies and lavender

Those daffy daffodils have finally decided to bloom.  I picked over 1,000 last week and sold most at the Rittenhouse farmers' market in Philly.  When I move to this property 15 years ago there was one long row of struggling daffodils along the front of the property.  I dug up as many as I could and transplanted them by hand to eight rows behind the house.  I don't remember how long it took but I do remember hoping they would bloom next season.  Boy howdy!  I haven't purchased any daffodil bulbs since then and they have multiplied ten fold. 

Daffodils are my first flower to bloom en masse in the spring. I'm always excited when I see that first hint of sunny yellow peeking through and I can finally start harvesting.  When the weather gets warm they all like to open at once.  I put away my to do list for the day and just harvest daffodils.  Harvesting flowers is one of my favorite tasks.  It's floral meditation.  I'm not running around delivering bouquets, getting ready for market, loading the van or picking up supplies.  I'm just harvesting.  Three hours go by and I don't even notice my knees hurt until I reach the end of the last row and walk back to the processing area with my full buckets.  One of these days I'm getting some knee pads!  Back to reality and my 56 year old knees.  Actually my knees are serving me fairly well.  They only complain after three or four hours of abuse.  People have asked me what my favorite flower is.  I never have the same answer.  Today it's those beautiful daffodils with their sunny yellow petals calling me outside.  They always make me smile.