The Daffodil Backstory

By Heather Lemieux, Editor

Daffodils in competition with Heathers - Credit HDWallsource

As the Bradner Flower show approaches; the fields are coming alive with the eye popping flowers. Silky petals and strong stems compete with the rest of the flora and fauna known to Bradner. The Bradner Community Club is in full swing, making plans for this years unique theme “The Good, The Bad & The Bug-ily”. Find out everything there is to know about the good bugs in your garden and how to use them to your advantage! Saturday and Sunday will host chefs, local wineries, special speakers and live music. There will be many displays showcasing the hundreds of Daffodil varieties, art, crafts and food. 

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History

The Reach P1369

The Bradner Flower Show has been celebrating since April 1928 and was organized by local nurseryman, Fenwick Fatkin who arrived in Bradner in 1913. Fatkin had been impressed by a crop of Daffodils growing in a field. He planted his first crop of market daffodils in 1918 and encouraged other local farmers to follow his example. The Bradner soils proved excellent for bulb production and an industry that continues to thrive today was born. 

The Daffodil is Narcissus, a genus of predominantly spring perennial plants in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Various common names include daffodil, daffadowndilly, narcissus, and jonquil. Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted by a cup or trumpet-shaped corona. The flowers are generally white or yellow (orange or pink in garden varieties), with either uniform or contrasting coloured tepals and corona. There is literally no difference between the Daffodils and Narcissus. The words are synonymous. Narcissus is the Latin or botanical name for those commonly called daffodils and Daffodil is the common name for all members of the genus Narcissus.

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Daffodils in York - Credit Travel to Europe

Daffodils originated from the states around the Mediterranean Sea. The earliest record mentioned about Daffodils was around two or three hundred years B.C. They were grown extensively by the ancient Greeks and the Romans, Daffodils nevertheless became a forgotten flower until about 1600. In 1860, there were fewer than 350 cultivated hybrids.

Daffodils were brought to Britain by the Romans who thought that the sap from Daffodils had healing powers. In actuality Daffodil sap contains crystals that can irritate the skin. In about 1629, a group of Englishmen took the Daffodil out of the weeds and put it into the garden, Daffodils became in favour again. During the days of the American experience and the expansion west, Daffodils grew to be well established. 

Today there 13 descriptive divisions, with at least 25 different species of Daffodils and there is over 13,000 different hybrid varieties. 

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Annual Event Details

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Bradner Hall, 5305 Bradner Rd, Abbotsford BC
Bradner Elementary School, 5291 Bradner Rd, Abbotsford, BC

Fun for ALL AGES! Admission is still only $2 at the door. 
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For more on each years Flower Show please email [email protected] or follow the Bradner Barker's Flower Show category.

Photo submitted by Vickie: Rylie