Frugal Flowers: Daffodils In Season Now!

click thumbnails for larger pics

We look forward to this season all year! It's daffodil time, and there are yellow, buttery daffodils for sale in cheap bundles nearly everywhere right now. We've bought ten for $1.50 at Trader Joe's, and a bunch for $2 at Whole Foods. Another local grocery store was offering five huge bunches for $10. Daffodils are so springlike and easy to arrange, too. Here are a few ways we've arranged daffodils in the last week.

• 1 Even though I appreciate daffodils on their own, I like to mix them into small seasonal bouquets, too.

• 2 This one includes another wonderful spring treat: pussywillow! The soft gray buds and reddish stalk complement the purple mums in this arrangement.

• 3 Daffodils bring a sculptural, almost modern quality to softer flowers; their pronounced yellow trumpet shape is refreshing when mixed with ranunculus and tiny mums.

• 4 I also think that daffodils look very nice with a backdrop or spray of something green. Just like they're usually seen against a yard full of budding green things, it's nice to complement them with dark green in arrangements.

• 5 And finally, daffodils look wonderful just on their own, too. Grab a big bunch from the store, trim the ends, and put them in a jar. Enjoy.

More Frugal Flowers:
• How To Choose Flowers at the Supermarket
• 3 Ways to Use White Carnations

(Images: Faith Durand)

Comments (10)

Daffodils are my favorite. I love their scent.

posted by pvett on March 31st 2009 at 4:41pm
view pvett's profile

I http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/

posted by Harpa on March 31st 2009 at 4:57pm
view Harpa's profile

The florist at my local Whole Foods told me not to put daffodils in with other flowers, as they secrete some sort of substance that will make the other flowers wilt faster. Anyone know if that's true?

posted by belmontmedina on March 31st 2009 at 4:58pm
view belmontmedina's profile

Is there special daffodil-giving etiquette? I watched a florist flip out when my sister mentioned wanting them at her wedding - apparently they are bad luck in certain instances... Any truth to that or was it just an elaborate way to upsell us to orchids?

posted by firecracker on March 31st 2009 at 5:11pm
view firecracker's profile

belmontmedina : I've heard that for fruit, they say you shouldn't keep bouquets near fruit bowls too long because of that.

posted by Daniel Poitiers on March 31st 2009 at 5:14pm
view Daniel Poitiers's profile

firecracker- does anyone honestly believe that the "such and such flower is bad luck" things are true? Tell your sister to get what she likes, I've never heard any anti-daffodil etiquette and I think they would be adorable at a wedding.

I'm inspired to go hunt down some daffodils now. I usually don't have the money for fresh flowers, but I think I could shell out a few for some sweet daffodils arranged in a simple glass jar.

~Amanda
onehappypanda.blogspot.com

posted by mandabear on March 31st 2009 at 5:20pm
view mandabear's profile

In response to the question from belmontmedina:

Yes, that is absolutely true! It will especially shorten the vase life of tulips. When you see tulips and daffodils arranged in a vase together it is essentially for the picture only. Your tulips will die shortly thereafter. krazykat from: http://www.jacksflowers.com/

posted by krazykat on March 31st 2009 at 5:38pm
view krazykat's profile

The flowers are great, but what really makes the pictures special is your wooden hippo :-)

posted by Nancy_Claire on March 31st 2009 at 6:23pm
view Nancy_Claire's profile

mandabear: Don't worry - we didn't believe her! But I was surprised at how strongly she reacted, like it should have been obvious. Everybody got their something.

posted by firecracker on March 31st 2009 at 7:30pm
view firecracker's profile

I'd like to point out that, according to their tags, those $1.50 bundles of daffodils from Trader Joe's are flown in from Ireland, (at least the ones I've seen at my local store). just be aware and think about whether you want to support that practice before buying them.

posted by foodefafa on March 31st 2009 at 9:31pm
view foodefafa's profile