Leeks of Daffodils? symbols of Wales

An interview with Pat and Nick Bean, Springfields about Daffodil growing in Pembrokeshire

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Photos Daffodils by  something.in.my.eye Leeks by Claudecf

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Update on Monday, March 26, 2007 at 06:05PM by green bean

 This article lifted from the Western Mail 25th March 2007

Our daffs may be simple but they're certainly not naff

WELSH growers have hit back at claims that "naff daffs" are being left on the shelf this spring because of demand for exotic blooms from abroad.

Fashion, snobbery and imported exotics have all played a part in reducing daffodil sales, according to Neil Tweedie, writing in The Telegraph.

He asked, "Doesn't the modern bouquet require at least one spray-painted, insect-devouring bloom from the Amazon Basin, complete with aromatic twig?

"In an age of designer floristry, when flowers with a carbon footprint the size of an elephant's are routinely flown into Britain from around the world, the daffodil just doesn't seem to cut it."

But Welsh growers and florists say the national emblem of Wales is a simple but attractive bloom that symbolises spring more than any other.

Nick Bean, who grows two million daffodils annually at Springfields in Manorbier, Pembrokeshire, supplies farmers' markets, local retailers and supermarket giant Asda.

"Daffodils are the most en-vironmentally-friendly flowers you can have," he said.

"They grow all over Wales and the UK - and they don't need any air miles."

He blames the "dumbing down" of daffodils on supermarkets selling cheaper ones with a limited shelf life, instead of quality Welsh ones that can last for weeks.

"Another problem is that daffodils don't mix well with other flowers," he said.

"However, there are very few flowers that you can identify so much with one season."

Delightful daffs  Some of the readers letters to the Telegraph in reaction to Mr Tweedie

Sir - Neil Tweedie thinks that "daffs are naff" (Features, March 23). I recently bought three bunches from my local supermarket, for £1.44.

They did look rather sad in the shop, all closed up in a black plastic bucket, but once home, I sloshed some water into a pretty old jug (I don't have a "sexy black vase", thank heavens), shoved the daffs in, and 18 hours later was greeted by a glorious riot of yellow.

Daffs may be naff, but they make me smile, whether happened upon by chance in the wild or sitting on my windowsill. I cannot think of a better flower to cheer up a cold, grey morning. Long live the daff.

Pauline Gill, Garmouth, Morayshire

Sir - Much as it is very satisfying to make floral statements and produce beautiful arrangements with exotic flowers, nothing can equal the sheer joy gained by plonking five or six bunches of daffodils into a pot and watching them burst into bloom.

The pleasure of their scent and their wonderfully brilliant colour is absolute. They are truly seasonal - when you see daffodils about, you know spring is not far behind. They bring happiness and hope. I refuse to believe in their demise.

Joyce Scorer, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire