The informal Louisiana Group is now official. We met and toured 3 private gardens on March 3, 2013. What an incredibly successful debut meeting it was! About 25 daffodil lovers met even though temperatures had dipped into the upper 20s the night before. Bloom stalks rebounded from the cold, and midseason blooms were in peak condition. Gardens toured included those belonging to Thera Lou Adams who gardens in both Louisiana and Arkansas; Marvin and Mary Lou McFarland; and Celia Jones. These private plantings are near the communities of Dodson, Downsville, and Gibsland, respectively.
The LA. group was honored to have 3 Mississippians (including Mary Price) make the drive to join us. Additionally, ADS members Gladden Willis, Linda Chance, and Annette Parker promoted the national organization to the potential new members. Charles Allen, PhD., and wife Susan participated as did Evalyn Cabell, Melba Love, Linda Berry, Janis Anthony, and others. Steve Templin, Celia’s husband, served the group hot blueberry scones with clotted cream after the tour of Celia’s historic property, a bulb farm once operated by her grandmother Annie Lou Holstun. Attendees agreed that the day couldn’t have gone better- historic and modern cultivars all showing off to impress the attendees. Mary Lou provided a much appreciated list of cultivars grown to perfection at her property. Since this event, interest in daffodils has continued to increase in the Bayou State as more gardeners learn of the diversity of daffodils that flourish in our area. An email list is now organized for frequent communication, and a bulb swap is being planned for fall. LOUISIANA is now on the daffodil map. Hopefully, many of us will participate in either the Texas or Mississippi shows next year. Annette Parker