Spring Flowers on the Farm

When we think of spring, we think of flowering trees, cool breezes, slowly emerging perennials, birds singing and – of course – bulbs! 

The explosion of tulip bulbs at the Annuals Garden and Pavilion at York Street may be the talk of downtown, but in the southwestern foothills at Chatfield Farms, daffodils are the primary spring stunner. Although some tulips dapple the various gardens across the farm, deer – and sometimes even elk – predation doesn’t allow for such grand mass plantings as the gardens at York Street. Daffodils, despite their cheerful, sunny appearance, are actually toxic, containing a substance called lycorine. With a bitter taste and causing digestive upset, deer and other garden visitors intent on munching should steer clear of daffodils. 

You can find many different varieties of daffodils across the landscape at Chatfield Farms. Some, like ‘Ferris Wheel’, ‘Pink Charm’, and ‘Precocious’ are known for their huge flower size and flower power. Others, such as ‘Angel Eyes’, ‘Kokopelli’, or ‘Elka’ may be some of the smallest flowering daffodils you’ve ever seen. 

Other tiny treasures that may catch your eye include dwarf reticulated Iris. Some of the earliest and smallest bloomers across the farm, Iris reticulata also qualify as deer resistant. Varieties such as ‘Pauline’, ‘Rhapsody’, and ‘Eye Catcher’ can be found in some of the drier gardens at Chatfield Farms, attracting hungry bees.

When horticulturists at Chatfield Farms still find themselves craving tulips and decide to try their luck, success has been found in planting Tulipa linifolia and Tulipa turkestanica. Despite being only 4 inches tall, Tulipa linifolia shines bright red in the garden. With a long bloom period and snubbed by most deer, this little tulip is tried and true. Tulipa turkestanica can grow up to 8 inches tall with multiflowered clusters that bees are drawn to; it is a reliable and hardy early bloomer that has been completely untouched by deer. Both tulips have very small bulbs, which make planting in the fall a breeze, and are great choices for smaller gardens as well as rock gardens and xeric gardens.

Be sure to swing by Chatfield Farms to enjoy our early season color and find your favorite deer resistant bulb!