CONSUMER Q'S
Question: I have transplanted some old daffodils from the family homeplace. They were planted there years and years ago. Where can I find out what variety they are?
Answer: Because many daffodils look similar and there are many of them, it can be difficult in some cases to make an accurate identification. To further complicate things, there can even be variability within a named variety. It is best to compare your mystery flower with others and note all its characteristics including bloom size and proportions, bloom time and flower color as well as other traits of the plant such as height, leaf width and hardiness.
You may find some guidance at the upcoming Daffodil Day at Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery (www.oaklandcemetery.com) Saturday, March 19. The event is free and lasts from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sara Van Beck, a lifelong gardener widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost daffodil authorities and author of Daffodils in American Gardens:
1733- 1940, will be a presenter at the event. Other experts will be giving presentations, and members of the Georgia Daffodil Society will be answering questions. More activities include garden walks, a cut flower display and a craft and story time area for children. Oakland Cemetery is a true garden and is home to rescued daffodil collections from across north Georgia and a perfect place to view historic flowers in a historic setting.
You should also visit the website of the Georgia Daffodil Society ( www.georgiadaffodilsociety.com) and become a member of the group. On the website you will find a handbook, “A Short Field Guide to the Most Common Historic Daffodils in the Deep and Coastal South,” that may help you on the journey to discovering the name of your old daffodil, and the society is filled with knowledgeable daffodil enthusiasts who will want to help.
Try to attend the society’s annual daffodil show March 12, noon to 5 p. m. at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, where you may see daffodils that are relatively recent introductions and some that were introduced to cultivation decades or even centuries ago.
Check out suppliers of heirloom bulbs such as Old House Gardens ( www.oldhousegardens.com, 536 Third St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone 734995- 1486). They can supply the introduction dates of varieties and sometimes a dose of history along with the bulbs they sell.
We also recommend a trip to Gibbs Gardens ( www.gibbsgardens.com) in Ball Ground this spring. They have planted more than 20 million daffodils of more than 100 different varieties. Although the focus is not historic daffodils per se, it is impossible to leave without learning something and without a greater appreciation of all daffodils, new and old.
We are glad you are preserving your old daffodil; if it survived as long as it has, it is a good selection for your area as well as a piece of family history. If you cannot find its name, keep loving it anyway. After all, who doesn’t love a little mystery?
Q: What are chicken backs used for? I saw some for the first time at the grocery store this week. The price was reasonable, but I didn’t know what to do with them.
A: Use them to make chicken stock, broth or soup. If you don’t have time to cook them now, they can be frozen for use later. You can also make stock and freeze it for later use. A handy tip for freezing stock is to freeze it in ice cube trays and then store the individual cubes in a freezer bag. That way you can have small amounts of stock available when preparing dishes without having to thaw an entire carton or trying to chip away what you need.
If you have questions about services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, write Arty Schronce ( arty. schronce@agr.georgia.gov) or visit the department’s website at www.agr.georgia.gov.