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Rainy forecast shuts down Daffodil Hill


A forecast of rain has shut access to Volcano's famous Daffodil Hill for the rest of this week. (Photo courtesy Daffodil Hill)

Famous flower farm may reopen, but not this week



For anyone who planned a weekday trip to see this springtime extravaganza, the fleeting joy of Daffodil Hill will have to wait.

Due to expected rain, the owners decided to shut the farm gates after only two days. This spring, Daffodil Hill may reopen next weekend or later – or not at all.

“With the anticipated rain for the next week we will be CLOSED (April 1) through the remainder of the week,” the McLaughlin family posted on Facebook on Sunday. “Please check the page and call (209) 296-7048 prior to visiting. We will be sure to update our page if/when we reopen. Sorry to those who planned a trip for this week.”

Bad weather totally canceled Daffodil Hill’s 2018 season as conditions were never quite right to welcome the thousands of flower lovers who trek to Volcano to see its show.

Built-up anticipation caused a massive traffic jam opening weekend as thousands of visitors made the trip up Rams Horn Grade to see these famous flowers. Owned by the same family since 1887, Daffodil Hill boasts more than 300,000 blooming bulbs.

So many cars on such a small winding road caused its own problems. Among them: Where to park? Apparently, some visitors did not follow the signs to the farm’s parking lot.

“At the request of the California Highway Patrol, when visiting in the future, please make every effort to park in the parking lot and if you find yourself needing to park on the roadway, please ensure your entire vehicle is off the roadway,” the family posted Sunday. “We have experienced numerous traffic-related issues as a result of cars in the roadway. We know traffic can be chaotic/frustrating especially on the weekends, so we appreciate everyone’s patience.”

When conditions are just right, Daffodil Hill is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, usually for just two or three weeks in late March and early April. Rain can cause gravel and dirt paths to become slippery and dangerous. So when storms are in the forecast, the gates remain closed.

Admission is free; donations are welcome and go toward planting more bulbs. The McLaughlin family plants 16,000 more daffodils each year.

At about 3,000 feet elevation, Daffodil Hill is located at 18310 Rams Horn Grade, Volcano. For latest updates, check Daffodil Hill’s Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/DaffodilHill/ , or call its hotline: (209) 296-7048.

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3

November still offers good weather for fall planting:

* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.

* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.

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