St. David's Day

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Today is St. David's Day, and perhaps an appropriate time to feature my most wanted plant. On this day in Wales people will wear either a daffodil or a leek, both considered national floral emblems, and in fact, it is a daffodil that tops my list of most wanted plants. Narscissus 'Cedric Morris' was found in Northern Spain by Cedric Morris the famous plantsman and artist who was also a Welshman. Later it was gifted by him to Beth Chatto who raised it and named it N. 'Cedric Morris'.
Narcissus 'Cedric Morris' blooms very early, usually around Christmas and the New Year, it is not clear whether it is a species or a naturally occurring hybrid, it stands 25cm tall and is a delicate yellow trumpet which graduates to green as it reaches the stem.

Cedric Morris by Lucian Freud. Obviously painted when Freud was still one of Cedric's students and looking a more in the style of Cedric than Lucian.

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