Atlanta Georgia

Of course, we have to try to convince you to visit our Fluwel webshop and buy Zantedeschias , Dahlias , Begonias and all that. So here it goes: Take a look in our colorful webshop and be amazed by all the beautiful things that are available for your garden. Well, that's it, end of newsletter. Just kidding, now we're going to tell you what I've experienced last week, that's much more fun to tell and much more fun for you to read.

Last weekend I visited the national meeting of the “American Daffodil Society” in Atlanta. First I want to explain what the “American Daffodil Society” is. First you need to know that Daffodil is the English word for Daffodil. The American Daffodil Society is the American Daffodil Association. In America there is a huge hobby in Daffodils . Everywhere in America you can find people who have Daffodils as a hobby, breed them and bring them to local shows to exhibit them. These enthusiasts talk to each other, have Facebook pages, share knowledge and are often united in local clubs of Daffodil enthusiasts. Once a year somewhere in America during the flowering season of the Daffodils a national meeting is organized and this year it was in the Crown Plaza Hotel in Atlanta Georgia. This year I was actually kind of voluntarily obliged to go there because we are organizing the World Daffodil Tour next year.

The World Daffodil Tour is actually a whole different story. If you think that the National Daffodil Association in America is big, all Daffodil lovers are also in contact with each other worldwide and once every four years they organize a World Daffodil Tour. This year they have asked Eric Breed and me to organize for 2024 that they will be in the Netherlands for a short week after which they will continue to Northern Ireland where Dave Hardy from Esker Farms will entertain them for a while.

When you are asked for something so beautiful, you are kind of voluntarily obliged to officially invite the Daffodil world during the meeting of the American Daffodil Society, in the year before the Tour, and to give a presentation of all the beautiful things they can expect during their visit to the Netherlands. I know, sometimes you get some nasty jobs that just have to be done :-). For three days I had to hold my own among hundreds of sweet Daffodil lovers in the middle of a Daffodil show with almost two thousand Daffodil flowers. All cordiality, hugs and happy faces.

When it comes to friendliness I think Atlanta, or actually the South of America, is number 1 on the friendliness list. You notice it already upon arrival, the customs officer looks at your passport with a smile, asks kindly where you are going, A Daffodil party sir. Daffodils ? Beautiful, welcome, have a nice party! And off you go. A little later you ask a happy looking lady where you can find an Uber or a Taxi and after she has explained it you let yourself be persuaded to take a covid test. Nameless, for research, you don't even get to hear the result, The only thing we want to know is where you come from. Try saying no to such a friendly smile from a lady who has just helped you find your way.

In short, it feels good even before you arrive at a Hotel where even more warmth descends over you like a warm blanket. “Southern Hospitality” they call it, and that is exactly what it is.
The evening I arrived the Daffodils were still being polished up for the show. Polished? Yes, polished up. There are many ribbons and prizes to be won for the most beautiful Daffodils. So if the petal of a Daffodil flower has a few wrinkles, give the petal a loving massage so that the irregularities disappear. Then put the Daffodil flower in a test tube with a sprig of green and put it down in the place where it can participate in the right competition. It was about three o'clock in the morning when the last ones had finished setting up their flowers.

The next morning early there is judging, of course I asked if I could be there. Of course, come and watch, and when I told the supervisor of the Jury, Mr. Kirby Fong, that I was going to write a blog story about it, he explained to me in detail how the judging works. I will not bother you with all these terribly interesting details, but at the end of the judging all the nominees for the first prizes are listed after which a vote is taken to determine which Narcissus is the most beautiful in its category.
It is the case that each team of judges is assigned a certain category. For example, one group judges the Trumpets, the other the cyclamineus Daffodils , the historical Daffodils or the seedlings. There are dozens of groups that have to be judged by various teams of judges. But in choosing the most beautiful in a certain group, all judges have a vote.

Best Daffodil of the entire show 'La Delicatesse'

Now comes the best part of the story, the absolute highlight of the show, when all the winners of all categories are known, they are also listed again and the most beautiful flower of the show is chosen. The world champion for that year, so to speak. The Narcissus that is the most beautiful at the largest Narcissus show of the year can safely be called world champion. And what do you think: La Delicatesse. A Narcissus of Fluwel. Submitted and truly fantastically exhibited by Mr. Kirby Fong.

Narcissus La Delicatesse

Quite a few of you readers will now be jumping for joy because you planted this Narcissus in your garden last autumn or the year before. Congratulations, you have the world champion in your garden, the most beautiful Narcissus of 2023. Don't you? Don't panic, quickly go to the Fluwel webshop and leave your email address at La Delicatesse at 'notify me'. As soon as La Delicatesse is available, you will receive an email that you can order it. Who wouldn't want that, the world champion of 2023 in the garden, that's beautiful...


Before I stop writing, I want to share with you an important lesson I learned in Atlanta from one of the better judges: If it looks like a chicken and smells like a chicken, it's time to eat.


Kind regards,

Carlos van der Veek

Here are some more pictures from the show

Dutch girl with Daffodils, winner of the photo contest.