100 Years of
Daffodil Hill
Online
NYBG’s fan-favorite Daffodil Hill has long brought joy and the promise of spring to our visitors. One hundred years of joy, to be exact! Founded in 1924 with a gift of 10,000 daffodils by horticulturist and botanist Ethel Anson Peckham, this renowned collection and its diverse array of Narcissus cultivars has only continued to grow through projects like The Million Daffodil Initiative—made possible with your support. And now, we’re looking to add visitor stories to its long history.
As we celebrate a century of brightening spirits with its vast fields of yellow and white blooms, we want to hear about the memories you made on Daffodil Hill. Learn more about the hundred-year history of this treasured collection, then share your most beloved moments with us for a chance to be featured here and on NYBG social media! You can also become part of Daffodil Hill’s next hundred years by dedicating a new daffodil planting in honor or memory of a loved one.
Visitor Moments & Memories
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As an NYBG member, I have visited the gardens on many occasions. Last spring I decided to embark on having a self-portrait shoot to commemorate my 35th birthday. I wanted to have beautiful florals as my theme and Daffodil Hill was a special opportunity to feel intertwined with nature!
Monica P.
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We got married at NYBG in April 2022 and took beautiful photos on Daffodil Hill! It's my favorite flower of the year.
Claire B.
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When my husband and I lived in NYC, NYBG was our little escape. We visited whenever we could, finding solace in nature and quiet. On April 20, 2017, my husband proposed under one of the cherry blossom trees at Daffodil Hill. He had kept the ring hidden in our studio apartment for nearly three months, waiting for the right spring day when we would visit. We have since moved away from New York, but we still love our memories from NYBG!
Alicia C.
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We made such wonderful memories last year with our (then) 1.5-year-old! He was so enamored by the endless sea of daffodils and we went almost daily for a week straight, often laying out on a picnic blanket and napping among the flowers. Core memory for sure!
Caitlin S.
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The first things that come to mind when I think of Daffodil Hill are books, sunshine, poetry, peace, and laughter. I would visit every week so I could have a few hours for my creativity to blossom.
Amanda C.
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I am sharing photos of Daffodil Hill over my 17 years of membership. I always look forward to the end of April when Daffodil Hill is in full bloom! One of my favorite places to welcome the spring season.
Jessica J.
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This picture was taken at my very first visit to NYBG. I absolutely fell in love and can’t wait to go back. Daffodil Hill was a wonderland.
Katy B.
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Thirty-one years ago when my daughter was nine months old, we sat her in Daffodil Hill and stepped back to take a picture. She found the daffodils so irresistible that she ate one—I'll never forget it!
Livia B.
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When my first baby was about three months old, I took him to Daffodil Hill and sat among the flowers where he cuddled with me, nursed, and finally fell asleep. I've gone back to that special spot every year over the decades, and it brings back those magical memories.
Elizabeth P.
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Daffodil Hill was one of the very first places my now fiancé and I went together. We were both in love with the contrast between the green, white, and yellows. We go back there every year on our anniversary. He proposed to me at that same spot in 2023 and we even took our engagement photos there. Daffodil Hill will always have a special place in our hearts!
Heather H.
Share Your Love for Daffodils
See Daffodil Hill Through the Years
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Daffodil Hill blooming in 1933
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Daffodil plantings. May 9, 1926
Courtesy of LuEsther T. Mertz Library
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Ethel Anson Peckham with guests on Daffodil Hill, 1924
Courtesy of LuEsther T. Mertz Library
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In summer, we let our lawn become a shaggy meadow. Abstaining from mowing in the next several months is crucial, as our daffodils are still photosynthesizing and storing nutrients in their bulbs. This is a happy time for the seed-eating birds.
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In the fall, we plant new daffodil bulbs on Daffodil Hill. This allows the bulb to grow roots before the ground freezes.
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Only once the grasses have thoroughly set seed, and well-after the daffodil foliage has died back, do we mow.
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In spring, Daffodil Hill is awash with color as the daffodils sync bloom time with nearby crabapples and cherries.
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Visitors at Daffodil Hill
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Narcissus 'Pink Charm' blooming in front of Prunus 'Accolade' along Rosen Seasonal Walk
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Daffodils in bloom on Daffodil Hill