The Gloucester Daffodil Show, held in conjunction with the Gloucester Daffodil Festival, has added a new class this year to celebrate the contributions of Brent and Becky Heath to the world of daffodils, and specifically to the Gloucester community.
The class will feature an entry of five stems of Heath-bred standard cultivars. Registering a new daffodil is a long, drawn-out procedure, and the Heaths are very responsible in doing this, making sure they have a sustainable cultivar before naming it.
While they may have hybridized hundreds of thousands of daffodils, after trials of growing and approval of their grower’s group they have registered 50 or so, both standard size and miniatures. Their daffodils are grown throughout the world. Prince Charles recently named their Golden Echo as one of his favorite daffodils. Their Katie Heath is very popular in Russia. Sales for Double Smiles are going so well this year that they just ordered 50,000 more bulbs of that cultivar.
Growing daffodils is very easy, and the results are a spectacular welcome to spring, Becky Heath said. “Showing daffodils is great fun and doesn’t need to be daunting. You get to meet new people and will enjoy a new adventure,” she said.
Both Brent and show chairman Maryann Hogge share a desire to make the show inclusive. A purpose of this class is to encourage local participation. The Heaths are interested in encouraging, not just growing, but showing.
The Hometown Collection class is limited to exhibitors residing on the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. It can consist of any five of the Heath daffodils. Brent and Becky and other judges and committee members will be at the show on March 23 and 24, 2018 to help participants enter their prize blooms.
The Daffodil Show Committee asked Brent and Becky’s Bulbs to put together a collection for this class. Three bulbs each of five of their cultivars (Grower’s Pride, Double Smiles, Ginter’s Gem, Golden Echo and Curly Lace) have been selected to be made available for $10.
The prize-winning flowers will be in a bag that includes plant labels and planting instructions. Mid to late November is the best time to plant. Brent Heath will lead a seminar on planting and showing daffodils at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14.
Many other of their bulbs can be found online or in the Brent and Becky’s catalog or in its bulb shop. An end-of-season sale will be held after Thanksgiving. Only 30 of these collection bags will be offered for sale. They are available at Gloucester County’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism office and at Brent and Becky’s beginning Nov. 1.
Other Heath daffodils eligible for the new collection class are Fellow’s Pride, Green Eyed Lady, Double Smiles, Moonlight Sensation, Starlight Sensation, Sunlight Sensation, Ginter’s Gem, Elvin’s Voice, Katie Heath, Tweety Bird, Orange Comet, Beautiful Eyes, Blushing Lady, Golden Compass, Golden Echo, Pappy George, Silver Smiles, Sweet Love, Sweet Smiles, O’Bodkin, Bahama Beach, Lieke, Apricot Lace, Curly Lace, Exotic Mystery, Mary Gay Lirette and Smiling Twin.