The Rye Daffodil Show

by Liz Dowling

The Jay Heritage Center was the venue for the annual Rye Daffodil show this year.  A friend asked me to help her out with a project at the event and, when I got there, I was amazed by the variety of daffodils on display.

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It was pretty hard not to be impressed with what I saw.  Especially when I knew what was in my yard….

Sad lone daffodil

Sad lone daffodil

My daffodil “collection” was a sorry state of affairs compared to these.

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Hopefully another bloom would emerge from this clump in my yard!

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Even with my prowess for growing daffodils, this show motivated me to upgrade to the next level.  These flowers were gorgeous.

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Pale pinks, bright yellows, creamy whites against vibrant orange.  A hint of green in the middle.  Beautiful.

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The Jay Heritage Center was the perfect setting for the show.  Built in 1838, this Greek Revival mansion sits on 23 acres in Rye overlooking Long Island Sound.

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Suzanne Clary, the president of the Jay Heritage Center, has done an amazing job preserving this landmark.  The Jay back porch, facing the water, is a serene place to sit and enjoy the view.  The “Actaea” daffodil (above, middle) was planted on the Jay Heritage property in 1927.

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A first prize winner above!

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It was easy to get distracted from my job at hand, but these ladies kept me on track AND organized the entire show.

Chris, Liz, Cheryl and Amy

Chris, Liz, Cheryl and Amy

I left with a newfound respect for the variety of daffodils available and went home to give my two sad little daffodils a lunch of Miracle Grow.  What are your favorite daffodils?  Comment and let me know!

Jay Heritage Center in Rye

Jay Heritage Center in Rye

the wry home

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