BirdDog im{press}ions

If you noticed yesterday’s post, the Year of the Tiger stamp features Narcissus flowers which apparently have significance in the celebration of the New Year in China. Furthermore, note that the special flower of the Rabbit is the Jonquil, which happens to be my favorite flower in the Narcissus family. The BirdDog Press color palette is inspired by the colorful southern culture experienced growin’ up below the Mason-Dixon line, smack-dab in the buckle of the bible belt. Y’all ain’t never heard of a Jonquil? {well, you might call ‘em Daffodils, but either way, it’s a nice shade of “yeller”} And while we’re on the subject, yellow just happens to be C’s favorite color. Do you like how I just tied all of that random information together? Here is a little flower fact sheet in case you are curious about these aforementioned bulbs:

Paperwhite Narcissus

• Narcissus: The term narcissus (Narcissus sp.) refers to a genus of bulbs that includes hundreds of species and literally tens of thousands of cultivars! The Narcissus genus includes daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites, among many others, so when in doubt, this is the term to use. However, when someone says “Narcissus,” they’re usually referring to the miniature white holiday blooms of Narcissus tazetta papyraceous, known as paperwhites.

Daffodil

• Daffodil: This is the official common name for ANY of the plants that fall into the genus Narcissus. So, if the plant is considered a Narcissus, it is also considered a daffodil as well. However, most people use the term “daffodil” when referring to the large, trumpet-shaped flowers of the Narcissus pseudonarcissus. These are those big, showy, familiar bulbs that bloom in spring that we all know and love.

Jonquil

• Jonquil: This term actually refers to a specific type of daffodil known as Narcissus jonquilla, although the name is often used as a more general term for daffodils in certain parts of the country. They are most easily identified by their dark green, tube-shaped leaves as compared to other types of daffodils which have flat leaves. Jonquils also tend to have clusters of several flowers, instead of just one bloom, along with a strong scent.

Buttercup

• Buttercup: This is actually an incorrect term when referring to daffodils or Narcissus bulbs of any kind. Buttercups are a totally different flower (Ranunculus sp.) that consist of an herbaceous perennial (that can also be an annual) that has small yellow or white flowers with five separate petals. Buttercups also flower in the spring, though they may continue to bloom throughout the summer.

*this information was learned online from Julie Day