As I’ve mentioned before, my mother had trouble learning the English name for daffodils when we first came to Canada a very long time ago. She had heard of Daffy Duck because we children used to listen to a Saturday radio show called Kiddies’ Corner and they often played stories about Daffy Duck.
She also knew what dolls were, of course, because my little sisters had to have their dolls.
So the best she could do to get her tongue around the word “daffodils” was “daffy dolls.” My mother has been gone for 43 years already, but I can’t help thinking of her every year when my “daffydolls” bloom, usually in the same month when she died so long ago.
These flowers bring me happy thoughts of her wonderful sense of humour and her sunny disposition. She loved gardening and would be pleased to see daffydolls in my yard. I wish she could see them. But who knows? Maybe she can.
cheerful daffodils
welcoming another spring
bittersweet flowers

March 30, 2025 at 3:32 pm
That’s such a lovely story about your mother, Anneli. Daffy dolls is a good name for them, too. 🌼
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March 30, 2025 at 3:36 pm
She knew it was the wrong word but she couldn’t remember daffodils so she said it would have to do.
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March 30, 2025 at 3:38 pm
This is very sweet, Anneli, a wonderful way to remember your mother. ❤️🙏🏻😊
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March 30, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Thanks, John. She’ll never be forgotten.
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March 30, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Amen. 🙏🏻❤️
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March 30, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Fun story. Cheers to you, your mom, and daffy dolls! 😀
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March 30, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Thanks, Brad. We had so many laughs with her. She was a great mom. I was lucky to have had her. It’s so good to have happy memories.
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March 30, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Yes, I understand about keeping the love going for our parents and family.
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March 30, 2025 at 4:07 pm
So dainty! Love this.
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March 30, 2025 at 4:15 pm
Thank you so much. May I ask – is your name Holly or Rene? I see that people have called you both.
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March 30, 2025 at 4:34 pm
Most people call me Rene. You can if you like. 🙂
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March 30, 2025 at 8:39 pm
Thanks, Rene. Very nice to “meet” you. I’m Anneli (rhymes with Emily).
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March 30, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Always good to remember your Mom and daffydolls is perfect Anneli. My Mom’s been gone for 51 years and every time I bake bread, I think of her, because she taught me how to bake. Have a wonderful evening Anneli. Allan
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March 30, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Yes, I know what you mean. So many things they taught us.
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March 30, 2025 at 4:59 pm
That is a precious memory.
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March 30, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Yes, it is. Thanks, Jacqui.
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March 30, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Made up words can be such fun, and often do get passed on through generations. You’ve honored your mom’s ‘silly’ word with a great haiku.
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March 30, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Thanks, Linda. I’m glad you told me about the haiku format not needing punctuation or caps.
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March 30, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Hi Anneli, I love your story about your mom. Sweet daffodils.😍
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March 30, 2025 at 8:43 pm
Thanks, Arlene. I can’t help thinking about her (and her daffydolls) every spring when the daffs pop up.
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March 30, 2025 at 10:47 pm
so wonderfull thanks a lot
I understand sometimes funny things in songs
have a good week
Erika 🙂
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March 31, 2025 at 12:36 am
I remember your mom very well, she was such a nice and good person. I think that the name daffydolls is much prettier for those lovely springflowers.
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March 31, 2025 at 9:00 am
Thank you, Ursula. I’m really glad you got to meet her.
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March 31, 2025 at 12:56 am
Love the name daffy dolls. The plant “Snow-in-Summer” is the one that brings back memories of my mum and her garden in Norway.
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March 31, 2025 at 9:01 am
Nice ways to connect them to us in our memory isn’t it?
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March 31, 2025 at 10:09 am
Indeed. I miss mum so much. ❤️
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March 31, 2025 at 10:41 am
I know. Even after many years, it’s not easy. But think how lucky we were to have had good mothers.
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March 31, 2025 at 2:34 pm
🥰🙏🏻❤️
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March 31, 2025 at 3:29 am
What a lovely name for daffodils. I’m sure your mum would love those in your garden, and perhaps she can see them and is smiling at the sight.
I bet your family never calls them daffodils, either. Always daffydolls.
And I love your Haiku .
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March 31, 2025 at 9:02 am
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Vivienne. And yes, they are daffydolls for us.
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March 31, 2025 at 8:03 am
Lovely story, Anneli. She was a wonderful, loving mother with a great sense of humor. Her love for gardening was passed down to all the kids as we were growing up. Daffydolls have always been a beautiful surprise in my garden as well.
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March 31, 2025 at 9:10 am
This must be Sonja. Our mother would have LOVED your garden!
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March 31, 2025 at 12:50 pm
A lovely memory.
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March 31, 2025 at 1:59 pm
Thanks. It really is.
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March 31, 2025 at 6:56 pm
Such a sweet memory
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March 31, 2025 at 10:42 pm
Thanks, Michelle. She gave her children a lot of good memories, but this one happens every spring with the “daffydolls.”
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March 31, 2025 at 8:14 pm
I’m sorry I didn’t see this sooner to give you a cyber hug. I know you’re not into this stuff, but I’m sure your mom can see those beautiful daffy dolls. 🤍💛
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March 31, 2025 at 10:41 pm
Hey, that’s okay. It was a long time ago. I still miss her but at least she was there for me for a long time. Not long enough though. She was only 69 when she died. Some people are not even lucky enough to have a mother for very long so I appreciate what I had. But thank you for your sentiments.
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April 1, 2025 at 12:38 pm
It’s my job to acknowledge people’s memories and/or grief. To be more clear, it’s what I feel is my purpose in life. So I enjoyed sharing her memory with you in the post.
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April 1, 2025 at 12:41 pm
I’m happy I could share it with you. Thanks, Lori.
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April 5, 2025 at 4:51 am
I smiled at this story!
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April 5, 2025 at 8:32 am
Happy to hear that, Jennie.
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April 10, 2025 at 9:54 am
I love your photo and the haiku. Thanks for sharing the memory.
My husband obviously planted bulbs in pots on our patio not long before he died. I didn’t know about them so it was a very bittersweet surprise when tulips and daffodils appeared last month.
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April 10, 2025 at 2:13 pm
I know that feeling. I still have the potted chrysanthemum that my mother had hanging in her veranda 43 years ago. But to see the flowers that your husband planted must be, as you said, so, so bittersweet.
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April 12, 2025 at 7:38 am
Gosh, that’s a hardy chrysantheMUM
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April 12, 2025 at 10:08 am
LOL! Yes, it is. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Now I won’t forget it.
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