common daffodil
The cheery yellow flowers of the common daffodil signal that spring is here or at least is coming soon. It belongs to the genus Narcissus which includes many similar species native to southern Europe and North Africa. These perennial plants have been popular in Europe since the 16th century and became important commercially in the Netherlands by the 19th century. They continue to be a popular flower despite their short-lived blooms.
Daffodils grow from bulbs, which are underground food storage organs that enable a perennial plant to survive drought or low temperatures from one growing season to the next. Their presence at Salter Grove suggests that they were intentionally planted by humans rather than brought in by wildlife. The two clumps that appear every spring west of the boat launch are near the remnants of metal steps leading down to shore. Although most of the plants at Salter Grove are volunteers, some perennial species with showy flowers like the daffodil, yellow iris, and lance-leaved tiger lily were probably planted as bulbs to decorate the summer residences that used to be in the park.