Come April about 1,500 newly planted daffodils are expected to start blooming at the Camino Sobrante triangle and Highway 24 off-ramp.
Orinda Garden Club members began planting 12 varieties of narcissi bulbs on Nov. 8. Many of the bulbs are Narcissus poeticus, commonly known as Pheasant’s Eye, while other varieties include Sailboat, Pueblo and Mt. Hood. Narcissi are a great choice for public spaces and home gardens because they naturalize easily and are deer-and pest-resistant.
The bulbs were planted as part of a larger project to increase visibility for drivers by removing overgrown plants and replacing them with smaller shrubs with seasonal blooms.
“The bulb varieties were chosen to create a long span of blooming. We used mostly white flowering bulbs to complement the existing yellow trumpet daffodils. Irises, evergreen grasses and dwarf shrubs, including Philadelphus lewisii, a native Northwest shrub with white flowers, will add seasonal interest. “I hope the results will delight everyone with a show of spring flowers and companion plantings,” says club member Sue Andersen-Berger.
“Beautification is a vital part of our mission,” adds Orinda Garden Club President Jane Wiser.
“We provide funds for these projects, and hands-on work with spades and shovels to get the job done,” she says. “We enjoyed the friendly waves and thumbs-up of drivers as we worked. This is a labor of love for the community by our members.”
