Spring bulbs: Narcissus. Daffodils are probably the bulb most associated with the coming of spring. 'Tete a Tete' (as seen above) and 'February Gold' are reliably among the first to appear. These are cultivars i.e. cultivated varieties. 'Gold' is said to be N. pseudonarcissus x cyclamineus. The ancestry of 'Tete a Tete' is obscure, possibly N. cyclamineus x tazetta.

 Even among botanists there seems to be considerable variation as to the number of wild species. Kew says 36, others say more. Here in the UK our Wild Daffodil is N. pseudonarcissus immortalised by Keats when he wandered lonely as a cloud in the Lake District. 

 There are an endless number of cultivars, though not many have real grace and charm. The few that do are generally selections from the wild or simple crosses of one wild species with another retaining characteristics of both. Victorian favourites like 'Thalia' and 'WP Milner' are worthy of a place in any garden.