About the Washington Daffodil Society
In 1950, the Washington Daffodil Society was organized by people who would later be instrumental in founding the American Daffodil Society. It grew out of the first daffodil show in the Washington area, sponsored by three local garden clubs. Dr. Freeman Weiss was its first president, and Roberta Watrous its first secretary. Among the founders were other names which would also become famous in the national society --- Marie Bozievich, Kitty Bloomer, hybridizers Edwin C. Powell and Willis Wheeler, and of course, Judge Carey E. Quinn. The knowledge and enthusiasm of these founders ensured a good beginning for WDS.
In 1951, spring visits to members' gardens were initiated, and remained a delightful feature of WDS
activities for many years. After this practice fell into disuse, an attempt was made in the late 80's to
reinstate it, through the listing of 'open' gardens in the WDS Newsletter. Sadly, few visitors ever came
to the several gardens which were open to members, perhaps a reflection of the times.
In 1952, the WDS began a two-day Daffodil Institute in connection with its show, which presented
programs on a wide variety of daffodil subjects. It was at this Institute in 1954 that the resolutions
creating the American Daffodil Society were adopted. Two years later, the Institute became the first
ADS National Convention. The famous Irish hybridizer, Guy L. Wilson was the principal speaker.
The WDS Show has a history of innovation. It was the first in the U.S. to offer a trophy for seedlings grown by the originator, and included a section for miniatures in its show schedule 11 years before the formation of the ADS Miniature Committee (which took some years after that to agree on a list of miniatures!)
Over the years, other innovations such as workshops for exhibitors, making show schedules easier to follow and understand, allowing multiple entries in one class, and allowing judges to exhibit in classes they do not judge have led the way for other shows. The emphasis WDS puts on educational exhibits for the public has resulted in national awards for these.
From the beginning, WDS has encouraged novice exhibitors. In the early days, there were separate
Novice Shows. Now the schedule provides an entire section for novices, or those with small plantings
and a Novice Award (a collection of 5) for exhibitors who have never won a blue ribbon in an ADS
show. Exhibitors' workshops were begun in 1958, and continue as a vital part of WDS' education
program. Participants receive hands-on practice in selecting, grooming and staging blooms.
WDS has also taken the lead in other areas. It published the first (U.S.) daffodil yearbook in 1955, and
the 1956 edition was coopted for the national yearbook. The WDS Library, another first, became the
foundation of the current ADS Library. Four WDS presidents have subsequently become
president of ADS , Carey B. Quinn. (first president of both), Willis Wheeler, Bill Ticknor and Marie
Bozievich, who became the first woman to hold that office in 1980. For twenty years, the Daffodil
Journal was in the hands of two superb Washington Editors, Kitty Bloomer (1958-1968) and Roberta
Watrous (1968-1978). Between them, they built an international reputation for the ADS quarterly and
set high standards for subsequent editors to meet. WDS is especially proud to claim Roberta and Marie,
who remained active for many years, and who contributed immeasurably to the success of the
club.
For many years WDS has worked with public gardens, contributing both bulbs and labor to them. One
major focus of this activity has been the U.S. National Arboretum which WDS membership
have given thousands of bulbs and many hours to help plant, dig and maintain the collection in Fern
Valley. Brookside Gardens, the American Horticulture Society at River Farm, the U.S. Botanic Garden,
McCrillis Gardens. in Bethesda, Green Spring Park near Annandale and G.R.O.W., Inc. in
Washington, D.C. have also been the beneficiaries of extra bulbs from members' gardens. In recent years the WDS has planted and maintained three collections at Brookside Gardens, the current location of its annual show. These are the Marie Besevich, Wister Award Winner, and Pannill Award Winner collections.
Washington had not hosted a national convention since the original one of 1956, but in 1988 it produced a convention which brought in 292 people from the U.S., Australia, Canada, England, N. Ireland and
New Zealand --- the second largest in ADS history. Innovations were present here, too --- the first
International Challenge classes for hybridizers (which were originally proposed to ADS by a WDS
member), a 'daffodils of the future' garden at the Arboretum, with the newest cultivars from 26
hybridizers from around the world, and a spectacularly staged national show that many claimed
to be the most beautiful they had seen.
In 2004 the WDS again hosted a national convention, the ADS's 50th anniversary convention. It was only fitting that daffodil lovers from around the world return to the place where it all began. Highlights of the convention, "A Capital Event",included a Founders' lounge
with scrapbooks and pictures from yesteryear, the unveiling of the ADS's book on the "First 50 Years", a video on the ADS's first fifty years, as well as seminars, tours, speakers, and the second largest national show in ADS's history. WDS once again set the standard for excellence.
Current members of WDS fall into three categories --- individual, family and club. Member clubs average about 25 each year. Individual and family memberships consistently remain about 150, with occassional big jumps in response to a great article on daffodils. Remarkably, nine states, plus the District of Columbia are represented in the WDS roster (possibly a tribute to the work of our Bulb Order Chairmen)
WDS is incorporated as a non-profit organization, and is governed by a board of directors comprising elected officers and directors, and certain standing committee chairmen. There are three regularly scheduled meetings each year, plus occassional special meetings, workshops and the annual show. The year 2007 will mark the 57th anniversary of an organization which has demonstrated great vigor and inventiveness over the years --- long may it continue!
That first year, seven WDS members placed a combined order for bulbs, "totaling more than $50," through the Takoma Horticultural Society (one of the show founders.) The following year, they began ordering from the growers directly, thus beginning the now famous WDS Bulb Order, which now supplies thousands of good bulbs to individual members and affiliated garden clubs every year. The clubs help to sponsor the WDS Show, and their members make its design section truly lovely. This is one of the ways WDS spreads knowledge and enjoyment of daffodils throughout the Washington area.
As the bulb order grew, the growers began to send extra bulbs, and members began to contribute bulbs from their gardens, to create the large and diverse bulb giveaway, or exchange, WDS has today. Members who attend the fall meeting often acquire a dozen or so good new bulbs through the exchange, new members even more.
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