Nearly one year ago, the Mississippi State landscape suffered the loss of a significant campus symbol – the daffodil.
The yellow flower became the topic of much controversy, albeit some jokingly, after landscape workers were reportedly ordered to dig up about 5,000 bulbs and destroy others by former university President Robert “Doc” Foglesong.
After removal of the flowers was initiated, Foglesong’s policy found the attention of students who wanted the daffodils to stay. After much protest and even a Facebook group titled “Save the MSU Daffodils,” many of the bulbs were taken to campus greenhouses for storage.
Following the swift departures of Foglesong and Interim President Vance Watson, many on campus started to wonder if the yellow flower would ever make a comeback.
MSU horticulturist Rob Rice said students should not have to wait much longer to see the cherished sun-colored plant back on campus. After a donation of new bulbs by Van Zyverden Bulb Co. in Meridian, Rice said the daffodils have been replanted throughout the university.
“They [the new daffodils] will come up and bloom mid to late spring,” he said. “The old daffodils that were not removed should be just fine and bloom in all their glory probably in February . most of them in new landscapes on campus.”
Rice said contrary to belief, only a small portion of daffodils were ever removed from the MSU grounds to be destroyed.
“A very tiny percent of the daffodils were ever removed as there [are] literally tens of thousands of them all over campus,” Rice said. “We did try, but never found a herbicide that would kill them.”
Rice also said that the dug-up bulbs have remained warming in campus nurseries and will be replanted in the future.
While news of the daffodils’ return may excite many, the elimination was seen as unnecessary by horticultural enthusiasts.
Senior ornamental horticulture major Mark Cooper said he heard that the daffodils were going to be replaced with another flower.
“He [Foglesong] thought the daffodils were unsightly after they bloomed,” Cooper said. “Foglesong mentioned that roses should replace the daffodils, which is ironic because roses are much harder to maintain.”
Plants and soils science professor Brian Trader said an unspecified small number of the dug up daffodils were donated to the Horticulture Club. He said some of the flowers were sold as part of a fundraiser while others were replanted.
“The Horticulture Club has put quite a few daffodils around Dorman Hall during the fall semester,” Trader said. “A small portion was sold in the horticulture sale as a way to fundraise.”
Trader said daffodils may not be as visually appealing after blooming but their complete disposal is foolish.
“Daffodils are definitely not a nuisance, but after they bloom they are not too pleasing to the eye,” he said. “It is important every three to four years to thin them out, but having a full fledge removal is unnecessary.”
As the daffodils again become a part of the MSU scenery, Cooper said he has one piece of advice for new MSU President Mark Keenum.
“After the daffodils with Foglesong and the magnolia tree scandal with Watson, my advice to the new president is to stay far away from landscaping,” he said.
Cooper also said he welcomes the return of the daffodil and believes students will as well.
“It’s my last semester here and I look forward, as do a lot of other students, to seeing the daffodils bloom again,” Cooper said.
He said daffodils are expected bloom in early spring in and around the campus welcome signs and in parking lots such as the one on Hardy Road.