Spring has a reputation for being unpredictable and dreary in the Buckeye State. While we slowly emerge from our winter cocoons (read: sherpa throws, comfort food and Netflix marathons) with an insatiable desire to bask in the barely-existent warmth of the sun’s rays, the chill of winter lingers in our bones and we find ourselves looking for a way to shake it. The truth is, spring — when the sun can’t always be depended upon to come through for us — is when Ohioans crave a little something to brighten our days. And, for more than 70 years, the Bryn Du Daffodil Show & Sale has been part of that “something” for visitors from across the state and beyond.
“The Granville Daffodil club was formed in 1941, and it was formed after World War II to get the community happy and thinking about a more positive outlook,” says 2023 Daffodil Show chair Monique Pinkerton, a Granville Realtor and club member who estimates there are 75 varieties of daffodils planted in her yard.
…Not that anyone’s counting
Monique Pinkerton - Bryn Du Daffodil Show
Surrounded by displays of meticulously labeled cut flowers in the daylightflooded rooms of Granville’s stately Bryn Du Mansion, Pinkerton is a fountain of knowledge regarding all things Daffodil. Her personal favorite? Hard to choose, but Hawaiian Skies, a white-petaled variety whose ruffled yellow “trumpet” is rimmed with orange-red, is a top contender. The two-toned “Happy Smiles” is another. “...and then any of the daffodils, too, that smell. I love the fragrant daffodils,” she adds. Four years after its post-war formation, the Granville Daffodil Club began displaying its signature flowers at the public library, inviting residents to stop in and soak up the simple joy that comes from admiring the sunny bulbs that are a fixture of central Ohio springtime landscapes. More than seven decades later, the club continues to invite visitors to pass through the doors of Bryn Du each spring and immediately be transported to a place of instant sunshine — regardless of the day’s forecast. Many of the daffodils are grown by members of the Granville Daffodil Club or “lifetime members” who have offered their selections to the club to use for shows into the future. Displayed in dainty vases containing information about each one, the flowers and arrangements are for sale — along with bulbs that visitors can purchase to plant in their own yards. “The nice thing about daffodils is once you put them in the ground, they bloom year after year and they multiply. So it’s a great gift that you can give friends and family and pass down to generations after you,” Pinkerton says. Thanks to their deer resistance and cold hardiness, daffodils are an ideal addition to just about any local landscape, Pinkerton says, and while the traditional all-yellow variety might be what originally comes to mind when one thinks of the perennial bulb, the truth is the possibilities are virtually endless.
“There’s over 14,000 different varieties of daffodils. There’s heirloom varieties, and then there’s also hybrid varieties. So they’re just not yellow trumpets like most people think,” she says. “There’s yellows, there’s orange, there’s white ones, pinks — many different varieties. Some have more than one bloom on the stem, and then others have a nice fragrance. So there’s a lovely variety.” On Daffodil Show weekend within the mansion’s ground-level chambers, the heady, fresh aroma of hundreds of cut flowers wafts from room to room, an invitation to linger and admire the varieties in their simple splendor. Each year’s show is assigned a theme — past years have included “Let’s Go to the Movies” and books — and the accompanying decorations and arrangements pay homage to the selection. The show and sale draws hundreds of visitors each year, some traveling from as far as California and Florida as part of an annual family tradition, Pinkerton says.
And with good reason: While the show itself is worth the trip, Granville and Licking County offer ample opportunities to make a day or weekend of it. “It’s a joyous, fun atmosphere, beautiful arrangements, the smell is lovely. And it’s just a nice time to come to Granville, maybe have lunch, come through, enjoy it,” Pinkerton says. “And if you have nice weather, enjoy the outside.” For her, the show is a pick-me-up in the season following what can feel like a long, dark winter. Symbolically and tangibly, the sunny flowers signify brighter days ahead. “It’s just getting over winter and the cold weather; new life, spring. We know that summer is on the way,” she says. “It’s just a great time for families to get together.”
Granville Farmers Market - Granville
While Pinkerton enthusiastically recommends the Daffodil Show as a must-see spring destination in Licking County, she’s quick to point out other highlights for individuals and families looking to make the most of their time here. One of those is the Granville Farmers Market, which operates in Raccoon Valley Park from early May until the end of October. The market, which in 2023 celebrated its 30th year, originated in downtown Granville, but relocated for space reasons during COVID and has settled into the property where, each Saturday, roughly 50 vendors set up tables to offer their homegrown, homemade and handcrafted wares. Operated by the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce, the market each week draws hundreds of locals looking to get out of the house, sip a cold brew, take the dog for a walk and buy ingredients for the evening meal — all in one trip. The market is among the longestrunning of its kind in the state and prides itself on the fact that all the produce and products available were made or grown close to home, says market manager Steve Matheny, who also is executive director of the Granville Chamber. “We want local vendors, growers, makers,” Matheny says. “We also strive to have a good variety of vendors, a mix. Not all produce people, not all bakers, not all cheese, not all anything. And it has to be grown by themselves or made by them, not purchased somewhere else and resold here.”
Licking County Recreational Trails
No matter the season, Licking County’s extensive network of bike paths is arguably the best way to experience our county on two wheels (or on foot, or rollerblades — pick your flavor!). From rolling farmland and historic barns to trees gently arching over the path; from college campuses and downtown vistas to rock cuts and rivers, a jaunt on the bike path is a beautiful and refreshing way to get your steps in and benefit from fresh spring air. The opportunities for exploration on the 14-mile T.J. Evans Bike Path are virtually endless. In addition to the plentiful scenery, possible destinations include the Mastodon Preserve at Johnstown Trailhead Park, where you can scan QR codes to learn about the area’s legendary “Johnstown Mastodon;” downtown Granville, where a quick jaunt off the trail offers varied shopping and dining options; the Newark campus of Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College, whose scenic campus is perfect for learning and strolling; and downtown Newark, where the restored Courthouse Square and surrounding area boast several hotspots for coffee and conversation. East of Newark, the Panhandle Trail leads riders all the way to Hanover, where Blackhand Gorge promises more opportunities for exploration. Elsewhere in Licking County — including the Ohio Canal Greenway in Hebron and Buckeye Scenic Trail in Heath — bike-friendly routes offer a safe alternative to road cycling and jogging.
Just a quick hop off the bike trail (or side trip off the interstate), Alexandria’s Baker’s Acres is a little piece of paradise tucked into the vast farmland of western Licking County. With a personal touch and a pulse on trends in the plant universe, this family-owned greenhouse and garden center offers an array of annuals and perennials as well as house plants, shrubbery and everything you need to take care of them — in addition to the opportunity to stroll through aisles of lush greenery that even non-green thumbs can appreciate. While Baker’s offers plenty of plants on its website (stay tuned, exotic plant lovers), a true way to get a taste of spring — even while the snow is still lying on the ground — is to stop by and peruse the aisles of plants. Whether you’re looking for a new Monstera to adorn the corner of your bedroom or dreaming of this summer’s tomato harvest, the knowledgeable staff at Baker’s are more than willing to help you find something that works for your space. To stay up to date on the latest Baker’s happenings, be sure to follow them on Facebook, where new plant offerings, seasonal items and events (food truck, anyone?) are posted. Not a green thumb? No worries, Baker’s promises to be a summery escape regardless of your gardening experience. Stop by, pick up a plant or two and give it another shot. (Worst case scenario, you have to stop back for more.)
Is there a better cure for cabin fever than a bit of retail therapy? We say no. After you’ve gotten a bit of fresh air and freshened up the darker corners of your abode with some new plant life, it’s time to treat yourself to a new outfit (or accessory) in anticipation of warmer days ahead — and the perfect local place to do that is Green Velvet. Located on Granville’s scenic Broadway, Green Velvet is a picturesque boutique where trendy meets accessible and you can actually try before you buy (sorry, Amazon).
Duck in with a girlfriend and chase the winter blues away as you browse the thoughtfully curated collection of clothing, accessories and gifts for yourself and loved ones. With a warm, inviting atmosphere and personal touch, shopping at the Parisian-inspired Green Velvet is, in itself, an experience. Owner Liz Stutzman, whose mother originally opened the shop under a different name, takes care to bring local shoppers a one-of-a-kind experience and prides herself on building relationships with her customers. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a hard-to-buy-for someone or treating yourself to a little sparkle, you can make a day of your Green Velvet experience by stopping for lunch or coffee at one of Broadway’s assortment of eateries and coffee shops; in any case, those winter blues should be gone in no time.
