Daffodils in Litchfield Hills, Conn., in Full Bloom

Share this New England story on

Daffodils in Riverton, Conn. Photo, courtesy of Janet Serra — Couple by daffodils in Riverton, Conn. Photo, courtesy of Janet Serra

As the winter snow melts and the days become warmer and longer, daffodils — the heralds of spring in New England’s Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County — slowly begin to emerge.

The best place in Connecticut to watch the sea of yellow unfold is at the Laurel Ridge Foundation located on Wigwam Rd. in the Northfield section of Litchfield. For information about the Foundation visit www.litchfielddaffodils.com. This weekend they are in full bloom. There are no entrance or parking fees, just a sea of daffodils to feast your eyes on!

The Foundation, located on a winding country road in the scenic Litchfield Hills, is open to everyone from sunrise to sunset during the time period daffodils are in bloom — typically late March through early May. The fields are closed the rest of the year. Visitors are encouraged to take photos of the field and are invited to submit their photos on the Laurel Ridge website www.litchfielddaffodils.com/gallery.php. Bulky photography equipment however is discouraged. The Foundation is on private property; picnics and household pets are not allowed.

A walk among the daffodils at Laurel Ridge Foundation is a rare early spring outing in an unspoiled oasis. The wild natural landscape of gently sloping woodland, fields and aged stonewalls overlooks a small lake dotted with two tiny islands. The park land and one of the islands is completely carpeted with gold and white blossoms, a glorious sight that is nirvana for photographers.

In Wilton (Fairfield County), visit Weir Farm National Park located on 735 Nod Hill Rd. Daffodils are in bloom amid its many stone walls and in fields. For information on Weir Farm, visit www.nps.gov/wefa/index.htm.

Weir Farm, Connecituct’s only National Park, was once the home of and workplace of J. Alden Weir (1852-1919) and is now considered to be the best preserved landscape associated with American Impressionism.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com.

About the Author: Janet Serra is the executive director of the Western CT Convention and Visitors Bureau.