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Virginians and daffodils share a rich, though sometimes questionable, history. The allure of having one’s beloved flower aboard early colonial ships has inspired both northern and southern writers to craft tales, long on romance, but short on proof. Despite this, daffodils do make appearances in colonial era garden journals, letters, and—most compellingly—within the remnants of early gardens.

Join horticulturist and plant historian Sara Van Beck for an engaging exploration of the history of daffodils in Virginia. This lecture traces the flower’s enduring presence from the colonial period through the Victorian era and into the early twentieth century, revealing how daffodils became firmly rooted in Virginian gardens. Van Beck will also examine how this legacy contributed to the rise of daffodils as a major commercial bulb crop, highlighting the influential 1924 publication Historic Gardens of Virginia by the Garden Club of Virginia, which helped cement the daffodil’s place as a beloved garden staple. Together, these stories illuminate how the history of daffodils in Virginia mirrors broader patterns in American gardening and horticultural culture.

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