I set out to see if I had representatives of all the 13 different classifications of narcissus varieties. Today it is the Tazetta daffodil and a tribute to the breeder of the very lovely 'Avalanche of Gold', William R. P. Welch who died in February at the age of 61. First the classification. This is a showy category, defined as 'usually three to twenty flowers to a stout stem; perianth segments spreading not reflexed; flowers usually fragrant'. I have several and was tempted to feature the well known 'Minnow' or 'Silver Chimes'. But 'Avalanche of Gold' won the day. A spectacular garden plant, photographed here on 22nd March, it has a spicy scent and between eight and fifteen flowers to each stem. Growing and selling his bulbs in Santa Cruz, Bill 'Bulb Baron' Welch seems to have been quite the character as his orbituary demonstrates. He was a witty man and a bright one, winning several major chess championships. His bulbs were his 'bildren'. Given that the bulbs take up to seven years to raise from seed, he had a work ethic as well as wit. In 2019 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the American Daffodil Society. The image is of Bill taken from the society's webpage. 
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