Springtime garden trivia about daffodils

MACOMB, Ill. — It seems like everyone is doing trivia these days. To celebrate the coming spring, I am trying my hand at writing some gardening trivia questions. Good luck!

1. When admiring spring bulbs, a horticulturist exclaims “Look at that Narcissus.” What are they referring to?

• A handsome Greek man that plays acoustic guitar
• A tulip with an unreasonably high sense of importance
• A daffodil

2. Why are daffodils planted in everyone’s yard?

• Because they are the best
• Deer don’t eat them
• Rabbits don’t eat them
• Because the daffodils were planted 10,000 years ago and just won’t die
• Options B, C, D

3. Why are my daffodils not blooming?

• They are tired of competing with the superior spring bulbs. Typical narcissus
• They need to be divided
• Someone cut their foliage too soon the last year and the plants couldn’t gain enough energy to produce blooms
• Why is this all about daffodils? Are you trying to teach us something?
• Options B and C

4. What’s wrong with daffodils?

• All plant parts are poisonous, hence why nothing eats it
• The sap will burn your eyes, so wash your hands after handling
• Is this the last daffodil question?
• Yes, I promise
• Both A and B

5. What’s the best part about spring?

• The daffodils
• All the snakes wake up
• Green!
• Realizing that once again you ordered too many seeds and plants
• All the above

6. What are the best snakes for your garden?

• Gardener Snakes
• Garter Snakes
• Gardner Snakes
• Snake Plissken
• Red-bellied snake (loves to eat slugs and snails)
• All snakes are great!

7. Why are snakes more active in the spring?

• Snakes are still working on their New Year’s resolutions early in the year
• They are emerging from their hibernaculum, are hungry, and ready to mate
• They want to know how your winter was and what you’re planting in the garden this year
• If the rest of these are going to be snake questions, let’s go back to daffodils

8. What is my favorite early-spring yellow flowering plant?

• Dandelion
• You thought I liked daffodils?

Okay, maybe my career path should steer clear of writing trivia questions. Hopefully, you enjoyed a little levity and learned a couple of things about daffodils and snakes. The answers to these questions plus pretty spring pictures can be found online at the Good Growing blog at go.illinois.edu/GoodGrowing