The Boston Marathon may be postponed due to the pandemic. However, thousands of Marathon Daffodils will still flourish and be distributed over the Patriots Day weekend to frontline healthcare workers.
The blooms can be found in many public spaces, including Audubon Circle, Kenmore Square, Back Bay, and at the Boston Athletic Association Marathon Finish line area. Also, the Marathon Memorial sites, along the Esplanade and Emerald Necklace, at the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues, Beacon Hill, Post Office Square, at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway to Fort Point Channel, along the Seaport where the 20 Knots: Daffodil for Boston art installation is displayed sponsored by WS Development, at the Christopher Columbus Park, Sam Adams Boston Tap Room at its Faneuil Hall Pub and in historic Charlestown.
Boston resident Diane Valle founded the Marathon Daffodils, now in its eighth year, to honor the spirit of the Boston Marathon by growing and delivering thousands of daffodils throughout Boston. The Marathon Daffodils collaborates with hundreds of generous donors and volunteers who donate their money, time, and energy to add a cheerful display of yellow daffodils to welcome runners, visitors, and residents. “Come take a walk around the city to see the beautiful, cheerful, yellow Marathon Daffodils; enjoy our great City of Boston and celebrate this Spring tradition while wearing a mask and social distancing,” adds Valle.
“Marathon Daffodils is a way to remember those who lost their lives; to acknowledge those who suffered injuries and those who rushed to their aid as well as to signify the resilience and strength of our entire Boston Strong community,” says Matthew J. Piscitelli, co-owner of Olson Greenhouse that grows the daffodils.
“The Marathon Daffodils are our way of offering a living symbol of Hope, Spring, and Rebirth.” says Clive Olson, Jr, Vice-President of The Marathon Daffodils. “It is especially important after experiencing a challenging year of a pandemic.”
In October of 2020, more than 25,000 Dutch Master daffodil bulbs were imported from Holland, planted in 5,000 pots, and put into a massive cooler at Olson Greenhouse, Raynham, MA. Three weeks before Marathon Weekend, the bulbs are removed from the cooler, ending their winter-long hibernation, beginning their life as a Boston Strong Marathon Daffodil.
On Friday morning, April 16, volunteers’ trucks will be loaded with daffodils while teams of volunteers gather at a dozen locations throughout the City of Boston, to receive and deliver the Marathon Daffodils to hospitals, green spaces, and locations.
Marathon Daffodils is supported by the generosity of numerous donors, Garden Clubs, Massachusetts Master Gardeners and businesses.