Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Narcissus 'Misty Glen' takes home the Wister Award



Narcissus 'Misty Glen'
Photo courtesy of DaffSeek and Colorblends Flowerbulbs.


The what award?

We all watched the Academy Awards two weeks ago. The Wister Award is the daffodil version of the Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. Misty Glen is pictured above--she's wearing white, which was not as big as silver on the red carpet this year, but elegant nevertheless. Misty Glen is still clutching her Wister, presented to her last weekend by the American Daffodil Society at their National Convention.

To earn this honor Misty Glen was required to be a "good grower" with a "floriferous habit", "showy at a distance" and "resistant to basal rot".

In her acceptance speech she thanked her parents, Easter Moon and Pigeon; her hybridizer, Frederick Board; the bulb sellers who promoted her in the horticultural community; and the many home gardeners who gave her the opportunity to perform in their front yards.

I'm going to offer her a starring role in my garden next year. If you live in USDA Zones 4-8 you could do the same. Industry sources say she's not a prima donna.



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20 comments:

Daricia said...

is there a slight peach tint to that cup? maybe just my computer - lovely anyway. i didn't know about the wister award. cute post!

Melanie J Watts said...

Charlotte - She is very pretty, however she wouldn't like my cold garden.

"Daffodil Planter" Charlotte Germane said...

Daricia, I was able to push past the paparazzi at the convention and get a good look at her. She's pure white with a green eye.

Melanie, With all your snow, a white daffodil is probably not what your heart desires anyway.

Christine B. said...

She may have taken the Wister, but we'll see if she can capture the coveted Last Frontier Award, an honor that goes to those few (oh so few) plants that can survive an Alaskan winter. If I can find her this fall, we'll give her a try....

Christine in Alaska

Dirty Girl Gardening said...

how very fabulous! starring role is right!

"Daffodil Planter" Charlotte Germane said...

Christine, How will you be able to give her Zone 4 conditions? I count on you to treat her well. Let's hope she can snag the Last Frontier Award as well.

Dirty Girl, Isn't she lovely?

Susan Morrison said...

She sounds lovely, but will she be as charming next year? After all, she wouldn't be the first up and coming starlet to let success go to her head!

"Daffodil Planter" Charlotte Germane said...

Susan, Don't let her pretty face fool you. She's no starlet--think Meryl Streep, not Amanda Seyfried. Uh oh, I'm hearing ABBA music.

Stephanie from GardenTherapy.ca said...

oooh- lovely. I can get behind the whitish narcissus. I took a few photos of some interesting ones that I'll post up for you. They belong to neighbours so I don't know the names but they are ruffly and look like they are blowing kisses.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to Miss Glen. From her looks she is well deserving of the award--a refreshing change from the ubiquitous yellow varieties constantly stealing the stage.

"Daffodil Planter" Charlotte Germane said...

Stevie, Thank you! I'll look forward to seeing them.

Grace, Not that you mention it, maybe Miss Glen has that Grace (Kelly) look in common with you. And she has the good fortune not to come onstage until Act 2 in springtime, when the yellow trumpets are wrapping up their speeches.

ryan said...

No fragrance and too snobby for zone 9? Sounds like a possible prima donna to me. She's not likely to win the Richmond award coveted by urban daffodils everywhere. Pretty, though.

Unknown said...

To see the other 32 WISTER winners chosen since 1985, visit the references page of the American Daffodil Society at http://www.daffodilusa.org/references/references.html. These daffodils are all "good doers!"

To see photos of these and thousands of other daffodils, check out the free daffodil photo database at www.daffseek.org, a free resource provided by the American Daffodil Society.

There are many ADS shows still to go this spring throughout the country, so look in on the Event & Show Calendar and the Societies Near You pages!

joco said...

Hiya,
I would have taken that for N. Triandus "Thalia" and have grown it for years. Certainly deserves a life time achievement award.
Nicely written post :-)

Susan aka Miss R said...

I've planted Misty Glen for clients, but never for myself...I think I have to. On the list for next fall it goes.

"Daffodil Planter" Charlotte Germane said...

Ryan, Her tazetta cousins are likely to take that Richmond award. But don't hold her preference for cool weather against her. Someone has to like the snow!

Becky, Thank you! I agree, the Wister award winners are the best place to start when choosing varieties. DaffSeek is amazing and there is a link to them in the photo credit here. Incredible work they have done there!

Welcome Joco! I've added your beautiful blog to the Other Continents section of the blogroll.

Susan, I am sure we'll both be happy to have such a star in our gardens.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for including me in the Blogorama! I love seeing all the varieties and this white daffodil, all the white ones, especially! So pure and sweet.

Helen said...

The Miss is a charmer -- and thanks to Becky for the links, now bookmarked.

Unknown said...

She is definitely beautiful although a little expensive. I usually plant a "splurge" daffodil(or two or three)each year.Misty Glen is on the short list for 2012.

Unknown said...

I had to return to retract my statement about 'Misty Glen' being too expensive. The last time I checked the price was a few years ago and it was about $20 for 5 bulbs. I just checked current prices and they are very reasonable now so this one is definitely on my list for 2012.