Winter’s end is often signaled by the arrival of the daffodil, which blooms for a brief period in the region surrounding the Ouachita National Forest. Unfortunately, the recent rainfall has caused the flowers to droop. Nevertheless, their presence serves as a reminder that newborn wildlife will soon be visible.
The daffodil is recognized in various cultures for different reasons. In Wales, it is the national flower, while in many countries, it is a symbol of cancer charities. In Iran, the daffodil is associated with the New Year or Newroz. The narcissus, the western name for the daffodil, is regarded as a symbol of vanity in the West, but in the East, it is associated with wealth and good luck. In Persian literature, the daffodil represents beautiful eyes.
The daffodil is also linked to spring festivals in the West, such as Lent and Easter. In the United Kingdom, it is occasionally referred to as the Lenten lily. Despite being prized as an ornamental flower, some people believe that daffodils are unlucky because they hang their heads, suggesting misfortune. In ancient Greece, daffodils were planted near tombs, and white daffodils were regarded as funeral flowers.
It is advisable to offer daffodils in a bouquet rather than as a single bloom if you are superstitious. Legends that connect this cheerful flower with good fortune caution us that a solitary daffodil may indicate misfortune.
The author captured the image with a Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera and a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens. The photo was taken handheld in aperture priority mode (AV) with a shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second at f8 and the ISO at 800. The white balance was set to auto, and the author employed single-point, continuous autofocus with evaluative metering.