Have you ever taken a wintertime walk down a country road and found a clump of bright yellow daffodils out in the woods?
Chances are, you’ve come across an old home site with flowers originally planted by someone who wanted color to brighten up the grays and browns of the late-winter Alabama landscape.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qms277@5:=[ }2C4:DDFD 2?5 y@?BF:= 2C6 2== ?2>6D FD65 E@ 56D4C:36 E96 D2>6 8C@FA @7 362FE:7F=[ 92C5J[ 7C28C2?E[ DA:C:E\=:7E:?8[ 62C=J DAC:?8 7=@H6CD E92Ek^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmk6>m$@FE96C? {:G:?8k^6>mk^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|282K:?6 92D 42==65 “E96 6DD6?E:2= $@FE96C? A=2?E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 86?FD ?2>6 @7 E9:D A=2?E :D 24EF2==J @?6 @7 :ED 4@>>@? ?2>6Dik^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmk6>m}2C4:DDFDk^6>mk^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm] p?5 :7 J@F DE:4< E@ E92E ?@>6?4=2EFC6[ J@F’== 36 @77:4:2==J 4@CC64E H96? DA62<:?8 @7 E9:D A=2?E[ ?@ >2EE6C H92E E96 DA64:6D @C 4F=E:G2C] %92E’D FD67F= 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6 5@K6?D @7 DA64:6D 2?5 K:==:@?D W?@E 2 C62= H@C5[ 3FE J@F 86E E96 :562X @7 G2C:6E:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm}2C4:DDFD :D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 p>2CJ==:D 72>:=J] p== }2C4:DDFD 2C6 ?2E:G6 E@ D@FE96C? tFC@A6 2?5 ?@CE96C? p7C:42[ H:E9 2 4@?46?EC2E:@? :? E96 x36C:2? !6?:?DF=2 E92E :?4=F56D E96 4@F?EC:6D @7 $A2:?[ !@CEF82=[ E96 !C:?4:A2=:EJ @7 p?5@CC2 2?5 2 D>2== A2CE @7 D@FE96C? uC2?46] x7 J@F D66 @?6 96C6[ D@>6@?6 @C:8:?2==J 3C@F89E :E 24C@DD E96 pE=2?E:4]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp?5 J@F’== D66 >2?J 96C6 … 2?5 :? >2?J A@AF=2E65 A=246D :? E96 H@C=5 H96C6 :E 92D 366? ?2EFC2=:K65 7@C 46?EFC:6D] w:DE@CJ D9@HD }2C4:DDFD 8C@H:?8 :? E96 u2C t2DE 367@C6 h__ p]s]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 C62D@? :D 3642FD6 E96D6 }2C4:DDFD 7=@H6CD 2C6 A=62D:?8 @? >2?J 7C@?EDik^DA2?mk^Am
kF=mk=: 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96J 92G6 2 DEC@?8[ A=62D2?E[ 9625J 7C28C2?46 56D4C:365 2D E96 D>6== @7 52C< 8C66? =62G6D H:E9 9:?ED @7 9J24:?E9 2?5 ;2D>:?6] %9:D A6C7F>6 42? 36 2=>@DE @G6CA@H6C:?8[ 2?5 :E :D D@>6E:>6D 56D4C:365 2D “?2C4@E:4]” x? 724E[ E96 H@C5 }2C4:DDFD :D E9@F89E E@ 92G6 4@>6 7C@> E96 #@>2? H@C5 “?24C6[” H9:49 >62?D[ “E@ 364@>6 ?F>3]”k^DA2?mk^=:mk=: 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96D6 7=@H6CD 2C6 3C:89E 2?5 4966CJ H96? E96 C6DE @7 E96 H@C=5 :D ?@E] }2C4:DDFD EJA:42==J 3=@@>D :? u63CF2CJ 2C@F?5 {2<6 |2CE:?[ =@?8 367@C6 E96 7@C6DE DE2CED E@ 8C66? FA] %96J 2C6 @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE 4@=@C7F= 3=@DD@>D E@ 2AA62C 6249 J62C]k^DA2?mk^=:mk=: 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm}2C4:DDFD :D G6CJ 92C5J 2?5 G6CJ 62DJ E@ 8C@H] %96J 42? 92?5=6 7C66K:?8 4@=5 H:?E6CDj D4@C49:?8 9@E DF>>6CDj 86@8C2A9J E92E G2C:6D 7C@> =@H=2?5D 2?5 C:G6C32?<D E@ C@4<J 9:==D:56D[ 7@C6DED 2?5 A2DEFC6Dj 2?5 7F== DF? E@ A2CE:2= D9256]k^DA2?mk^=:mk=: 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qms66C H@?’E E@F49 E96>[ H9:49 :D 2?@E96C C62D@? J@F’C6 =:<6=J E@ D66 E96> :? @FC H@@5D]k^DA2?mk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%@ A=2?E 2 }2C4:DDFD 3F=3[ 5:8 2 9@=6 E92E :D E9C66 E@ 7@FC E:>6D E96 56AE9 @7 E96 3F=3’D 96:89Ej H2E6C 86?6C@FD=J 2?5 4@G6C E96> FA] ~?46 A=2?E65[ }2C4:DDFD 3=@DD@>D H:== 4@>6 324< J62C 27E6C J62C 2?5 >F=E:A=J[ 5@F3=:?8 :? EH@ @C E9C66 J62CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp=E9@F89 E96C6 2C6 >2?J 5:776C6?E G2C:6E:6D @7 }2C4:DDFD[ E96J 2== D92C6 2 4@>>@? DECF4EFC6] |@DE 8C@H E@ 36 ` E@ `\`^a 766E E2== H:E9 D6G6C2= =@?8[ ?2CC@H 8C66? @C 3=F6\8C66? =62G6D 2?5 2 D:?8=6[ 9@==@H DE6> @C “D42A6” E92E 362CD 2 D:?8=6[ @C D@>6E:>6D >F=E:A=6 3=@DD@>D] }2C4:DDFD 7=@H6CD 2C6 FDF2==J J6==@H @C H9:E6[ E9@F89 D@>6 G2C:6E:6D :?4=F56 8C66?[ @C2?86[ C65 2?5 A:?< 4@=@CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 7=@H6C :D >256 FA @7 2 7=@C2= EF36 @? E96 6?5 @7 E96 D42A6[ 2 C:?8 @7 D:I E6A2=D WH9:49 >@DE 7@=<D H@F=5 42== A6E2=DX 2?5 2 4@C@?2 E92E 6>6C86D 7C@> E96 46?E6C @7 E96 E6A2=D] x?D:56 E96 4@C@?2 2C6 D:I DE2>6?D E92E AC@5F46 A@==6?] %96D6 7=@H6CD EJA:42==J 7246 E96 DF? H96C6G6C E96J 2C6 A=2?E65[ E9@F89 E96J >2J 36 FAC:89E @C 7246 5@H?] }2C4:DDFD 7=@H6CD 2C6 A@==:?2E65 3J 366D[ 3FEE6C7=:6D[ >@E9D 2?5 7=:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$4:6?E:DED 5:G:56 }2C4:DDFD DA64:6D :?E@ `b 5:776C6?E 8C@FAD 32D65 @? E96:C 7=@H6C D92A6D] v2C56?6CD 2?5 7=@C:DED 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ C64@8?:K6 EH@ 32D:4 EJA6D @7 }2C4:DDFD 7=@H6CDi s277@5:=D 2?5 y@?BF:=D] s277@5:=D[ 3J 72C E96 >@DE 4@>>@?[ 92G6 D:?8=6[ =2C86 ECF>A6E\D92A65 7=@H6CD 2?5 7=2E[ DEC2A\=:<6 =62G6D 2?5 2 >:=56C D46?E] y@?BF:=D 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 92G6 4=FDE6CD @7 7=@H6CD 2?5 52C< 8C66?[ EF36\D92A65 =62G6D 2?5 2 DEC@?8 D46?E] !2A6CH9:E6D[ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 y@?BF:= 8C@FA[ 92G6 D>2==6C[ H9:E6 3=@DD@>D 2?5 2C6 G6CJ 9:89=J D46?E65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm}2C4:DDFD 7CF:E 7@C>D 27E6C E96 3=@DD@>D 7256 E@ 4C62E6 2 D665\7:==65 42ADF=6 E92E @A6?D 2D :E 5C:6D[ C6=62D:?8 E96 A=2?E’D D665D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqF=3D 2C6 4@G6C65 H:E9 2 3C@H? D<:? 2?5 2C6 @G2= D92A65i C@F?565 H:E9 D>2== C@@ED @? E96 =@H6C 6?5 2?5 A@:?E65 @? E96 FAA6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm}2C4:DDFD 4@?E2:? 2 E@I:4 2=<2=@:5 42==65 =J4@C:?6[ 2?5 A6@A=6 92G6 5:65 7C@> 4@?DF>:?8 E96 3F=3D 2?5 =62G6D E92E E96J >:DE2<6?=J E9@F89E H6C6 @?:@?D @C =66<D] {:G6DE@4< 2?5 42ED 42? 2=D@ 36 92C>65 3J 62E:?8 E96D6 A=2?ED] p?5 >2?J 82C56?6CD <?@H E@ H62C 8=@G6D H96? A=2?E:?8 }2C4:DDFD 3F=3D @C 92?5=:?8 4FE 7=@H6CD[ D@ E96J 5@?’E 86E “5277@5:= :E49]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(9:=6 E96 AC:>2CJ FD6 @7 E9:D A=2?E :D 7@C 4966CJ 7=@H6CD[ }2C4:DDFD 92D 366? 6>A=@J65 E9C@F89@FE E96 286D 7@C 2 ?F>36C @7 AFCA@D6D[ :?4=F5:?8 EC62E>6?ED 7@C EF>@CD[ 2D 2? @:?E>6?E 7@C A2:?7F= ;@:?ED 2?5 6G6? 2D 2 4FC6 7@C 32=5?6DD :? pC23:2]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%@52J :E :D 8C@H? 2?5 C67:?65 E@ AC@5F46 E96 5CF8 82=2?E2>:?6[ H9:49 :D FD65 E@ EC62E p=K96:>6C’D 5:D62D6[ 2D H6== 2D 7@C 7C28C2?46D :? E96 A6C7F>6 2?5 6DD6?E:2= @:= :?5FDEC:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx? vC66< >JE9@=@8J[ }2C4:DDFD H2D 2 92?5D@>6 9F?E6C H9@ =@G65 6G6CJE9:?8 362FE:7F=] ~?6 52J[ H9:=6 ECJ:?8 E@ 5C:?< 7C@> 2 A@@= @7 H2E6C 96 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 9:D @H? C67=64E:@?] t249 E:>6 96 36?E 5@H? E@ <:DD E96 C67=64E65 :>286[ :E 5:D2AA62C65] tG6? E9@F89 96 8C6H E9:CDE:6C 2?5 E9:CDE:6C[ 96 C67FD65 E@ 5:DEFC3 E96 H2E6C 2?5 =@D6 9:D C67=64E:@?] w6 5:65 @7 E9:CDE 36D:56 E96 A@@=[ 2?5 :? 9:D A=246 8C6H 2 362FE:7F= }2C4:DDFD 7=@H6C H:E9 :ED 492C>:?8 7246 3@H65 5@H? E@ E96 H2E6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx7 J@F FD6 }2C4:DDFD :? 2CC2?86>6?ED[ :E A2JD E@ 36 2H2C6 @7 E96 A=2?E’D E@I:4 D2A[ H9:49 42? 5C2DE:42==J D9@CE6? E96 3=@DD@> =:G6D @7 @E96C DA64:6D @7 7=@H6CD] r@?5:E:@? E96 7=@H6CD 3J A=24:?8 7C6D9=J 4FE DE6>D :? H2E6C 7@C EH@ @C E9C66 9@FCD] %9:D H:== 8:G6 E96 4FED E:>6 E@ 962= @G6C 2?5 E96 D2A E:>6 E@ DE@A 7=@H:?8] %96? A=246 E96 }2C4:DDFD 7=@H6CD :? 2CC2?86>6?ED H:E9@FE C6\4FEE:?8 E96 DE6>D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmk6>m$@>6 :?7@C>2E:@? 7@C E9:D DE@CJ 42>6 7C@>k^6>mk^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$@FE96C? {:G:?8[ !DJ49@=@8J %@52J[ u=@C6E u=@H6CD[ u=@C2 @7 p=232>2k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmk6>m2?5k^6>mk^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(:<:A65:2]k^DA2?mk^Am