Our islands of daffodils along the main drive and on Sycamore Hill are still looking beautiful. Each drift is a single heirloom variety, maintained as Mr. du Pont laid it out, with irregular borders and closely planted clumps.

Conservatory Lawn near the museum is still frosted with the white flowers of spring beauty (Claytonia virginica). A native wildflower, Claytonia self-sows to create drifts of pinkish white flowers. These drifts expand each year as long as you allow the plants to flower, fade, and reseed themselves.

I suppose magnolias, bluebells, trillium, and windflower should also be included in my catalog of things to see this weekend. I hope you’ll visit the garden yourself and make your own list of experiences “not to be missed.”

Today, it’s about 55 degrees with bright sun and the flowers are fully open.  We’re on the leading edge of the “blue phase” of the March Bank. Over the next week or so, it will become more intensely saturated.

My favorite views in late March are daffodil “clouds” as the dark stubble of leaves emerge on the hillsides, reminding me of a 5 o’clock shadow.  Doesn’t sound pretty, does it? It’s like my dad’s scratchy beard mixed with the promise of spring.

This afternoon I encountered two couples walking in the garden. The first woman stated that she and her husband had just come up with a new life plan. They are going to take an afternoon off a week to have lunch at Winterthur and walk in the garden. A worthy idea for enjoying life to the fullest, don’t you think? 

I met the second couple walking near the greenhouses and asked if they had seen the March Bank. Oh yes, they said with glee. The woman added that today is their 48th wedding anniversary; they celebrated by enjoying the garden from their favorite bench. The March Bank seems to be blooming  just for them!