Daffodil Hill-- The New Gold Rush
Sierra Lodestar Column 03/18/09

Daffodil Hill: The New Gold Rush
By Antoinette May Herndon

Eureka! Each spring the gold rush begins anew as visitors from all over the world flock to the Mother Lode. They strike it rich at McLaughlin Daffodil Hill Ranch. This personal bonanza began March 14 and will continue through mid-April.

It’s neither a park, nor a town—more like an intersection of two winding roads that seemingly go nowhere, yet each year the flower faithful come. What began as a 19th century family garden now draws thousands each year to the Sierra foothills. Like the Argonauts of old they seek gold. They will find it, too, on a historic working ranch where more than 500,000 daffodils, in 300 varieties, blanket the hillside.

Space was tight on the old sailing ships ‘round the Horn to California’s goldfields. Immigrants brought only what they needed. Peter Denzer was an exception. Tucked in among the mining tools were a few daffodil bulbs from his native Holland. The Dutchman (who never found the yellow ore he sought) couldn’t possibly have imagined the golden bounty his simple love of flowers would bring to this alpine setting more than 3000 ft. above sea level.

In 1887 Denzer’s homestead, some 65 miles southeast of Sacramento, was bought by Art and Lizzie McLaughlin. Lizzie, also a daffodil lover, planted more bulbs—many more. At the time of the purchase, the ranch doubled as a toll-road and way-station for travelers headed for the Kennedy, Argonaut and Comstock mines and teamsters hauling lumber across the Kit Carson Pass. The McLaughlins, wagon pioneers themselves, rented rooms and served meals—breakfast was 25 cents—and provided shelter for the animals. Saturday night dances were held in the barn which still stands today.

When Lizzie died in 1935, her two children added a few more daffodils each year in her memory. Before long, travelers

and truck drivers alike were stopping to admire the blooms. Word spread and so did the garden. A few hundred flowers grew to few thousand until now there are six acres of them.

Daffodil Hill is not a commercial enterprise. It’s not even formally publicized or promoted, yet the garden has drawn as many as 400 visitors in a single day. They come from all over the world to wander the twisting paths lined with old wagon wheels, rusting mining tools gamboling lambs and preening peacocks. The late Mary Ryan, Lizzie’s granddaughter who lived well into her eighties, took special pride in the splendid peafowl. “In spring their feathers are in good bloom too—just like the flowers.”

Mary Ryan’s sons, George, Martin and Michael and their wives, continue to plant bulbs—some 6,000 of then--each year in memory of their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great grandparents, but the gold fever has spread. Volunteers also help with planting and thousands of dollars have been donated for the purchase of new bulbs. The efforts of all are a glowing tribute to the pioneer past.

George Ryan hopes the spring’s new rush of golden blooms will give visitors something to take away with them, not a treasure of ore, but a memorable bullion of flowering happiness. “People ask why we have created this spot and why we keep it open to the public. Perhaps it’s because we want keep the ‘old home place’ from falling to ruin as have so many of these old country places.” He explains, “it’s our way of perpetuating the memory not only of our parents and grandparents but of all those early day farm folk whose way of life was so hard and so different from our present lives.”

Nature sets the schedule for public viewing of what Mary Ryan called, “A little piece of heaven.” The working ranch opens to the public when 25 percent of the flowers are in bloom and closes when only

25 percent remain. (Usually mid-March to mid-April) Weather permitting, Daffodil will be open every day during this period from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free. No pets are allowed on the grounds.

McLaughlin Daffodil Hill Ranch can be reached from either Sutter Creek or Jackson, each route is approximately 12 miles. Sutter Creek and Jackson are located on Highway 49, in Amador County.

From Jackson, turn east on Highway 88 for eight miles to Pine Grove. Turn north at Pine Grove—Volcano Road. Follow Pine Grove-Volcano Road until it turns into Rams Horn Grade. Follow Rams Horn Grade to Daffodil Hill.

From Sutter Creek, turn east on Gopher Flat Road. Follow signs to Daffodil Hill.

Call 296-7048 for additional information.

aherndon@sierralodestar.com

daff facts

planting—Store your bulbs in a cool and airy place until around Halloween. The Ryan family begins their planting in early November. Select a well-drained, sunny hillside or raised bed where plants will drain easily. Plant your daffodils so that their pointed end is up and at least two times as deep as the bulb is high.

cutting—once the daffodil foliage looks dead, you can cut it off. The leaves are no longer needed by the plant.

displaying—two gallon pots are recommended for standard size daffodils, one gallon for miniatures. Sterilize used pots and allow them to drain before filling. Place a pinch of fertilizer in the bottom of the pot over a little soil. Then fill the pot with three parts soil to one part perlite. Place 3 to 4 bulbs in pot about one third of the way down, spacing them the diameter of one bulb apart and that same distance from the pot’s sides. Water heavily—every day the first week.

buying—order early (April or May) to ensure the pick of the crop. Prices vary and so do bulbs. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. A.H.