Once you reach the large cherry tree, turn right follow the path down across two footbridges and up the steps, following the path around to the top of the hill overlooking Daffodil Valley below.
In 1984 the Trimbles undertook the most ambitious project of all: opening up a vast eyesore, part of the heavily wooded and weedy ravine bounded by the levee of the pond. It was a long and back-breaking task. They cut out many overgrown “trash trees,” laboriously clearing out heavy vines all the way from the small creek below to the very top of the hill, where one could suddenly see a spectacular view of the pond in the distance. It took months of arduous work before they could lay out the projected gravel paths that must circle both downhill and uphill the steep slopes, connected intermittently by rustic wooden bridges. The entry to the valley is beneath a group of old cherry trees that had been planted during World War II by the then-resident gardener, James Imahara. To cross the streams, three bridges were built: the first, directly past the cherry trees; the second, farther along, crossing the creek; the third, at the very top to cross the overflow of the pond to the levee. To connect the handrailed bridges, stepping stones were carefully set by Ivy and James Jones from the cherry trees down to the creek, from the creek up to the first level on the hill, then straight up to the top, where a wrought-iron bench was placed to look over to see where the daffodils would one day bloom and also view the pond across the way.
Here since 1984, over 100,000 daffodils have been planted for naturalization – including Carlton, Mt. Hood, Delibes, Yellow Sun, and several other varieties. In this area plants indigenous to the West Feliciana environment are being introduced such as Grancy Greybeard, Halesia or Silverbell Tree, the Tulip Tree, White Honeysuckle, Cowcumber, and Wild Ferns.
Daffodil Valley reminds many visitors of William Wordsworth’s poem, published in 1807:
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills
When all at once I saw a crowd
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Keep following the path around on the left and down the hill, where you will reach The Ponds.