Everything is Coming Up Daffodils
By Bobbi Zane

The annual display of daffodils draws vistors to Julian every spring. Photo by Jamey Ritter

Julian celebrates daffodils every spring as more than a million yellow trumpets, planted and naturalized through the years, emerge from the chilly ground to symbolize sunny, warm days to come.

The display is heralded during the annual Daffodil Show to be held March 3 and 4 at the Blue Heron Garden Shop and Gallery, 2116 Third St., Julian.

The show, which includes judging of up to 38 categories of the flowers, is in its third year, according to Anne Dawkins, who along with her mother, Joan Dawkins, owns the garden shop. It will showcase entries grown by Julian residents as well as some from other areas in San Diego County. The shop will also have books and information about how to grow daffodils as well as some gift items.

Jay Pengra is the former president of the Southern California Daffodil Society who was instrumental in getting the local show started with a small show at the Coffee House. He will be on hand to coordinate the judging.

"We will have special awards for the winners such as best in show, single and triple, sweepstakes (most first places), best youth, and first places in collections. We hope to have ribbons for first, second and third place blooms," he said.

The idea for the show grew out of the devastation of the Cedar Fire, Pengra recalled. He said, he and his wife, Faye, "were touched by the (damage caused by) the wild fires in and around Julian in 2003."

Pengra had been considering starting a daffodil show in Southern California when he heard about Julian's abundant daffodils.

"We visited Julian, contacted Sally Snipes; she was all for putting on a local show that would demonstrate the Julian spirit of rebirth just as the daffodils emerge each year. She told us how she became interested in gardening through her father and that on his death she wanted to do something in his memory. She came upon the idea of planting daffodils in the community and along the roadsides. The citizens in the area responded and planted many bushels obtained each year throughout the community."

The first show was an impromptu small one held at the Julian Coffee House, according to Anne Dawkins. Last year, it moved to the Blue Heron, where the ambiance is just right.

Last year there were 18 entries, according to Dawkins, but "we've had much better publicity and hope to have many more this year."

The Daffodil Show, open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, is one of two daffodil events on March 3 and 4. The second is the Daffodil Art Show featuring daffodil-inspired artworks by local artists in Town Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 3-4.

For information, contact the Julian Chamber of Commerce 760-765-1857 or the Blue Heron at 760-765-0480.