Daffodils Put on a Spectacular Show Every Spring at This Saco, Maine Cemetery

I love a simple flower that doesn't really demand much from you. If it shows up every spring with little to no effort (from you), then it's okay in my books. Daffodils are like that. They are the Toyota Corolla of flowers. They're everywhere and get the job done. Plant them once, and forget about it. They come back. Year after year.

But here's the thing about daffodils — they are extremely long-lived. A daffodil bulb can keep blooming year after year for 50 years or more on its own. If you've seen daffodils while walking in the woods in New England, that's because someone planted them there, and those people aren't here anymore, and neither is the house that they were planted next to. Every year they come back, like little ghost flowers. I know, creepy — but cool.

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I'll also tell you that in my experience, deer don't touch daffodils. That can't be said about anything else in my yard, which is deemed "deer resistant" — because this year, deer consumed everything from boxwood to hydrangeas to even a spruce bush. An entire spruce bush. Tough year for deer.

If you are also a fan of daffodils and easy beauty, there's a spot in Saco, Maine, that takes the humble daffodil and annually turns it into something spectacular.

Hugging the Saco River in Southern Maine, Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco is a breathtaking blend of history and natural beauty.

For a place known as the final resting place for so many loved ones, it's ironically an ever-changing landscape of color and seasonal rebirth.

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Established in 1844 to replace a long-neglected cemetery, it covers 25 acres and hosts winding paths, a diverse collection of both deciduous and evergreen trees, and a pretty knockout view of the Saco River.

Some names on the cemetery's headstones may sound familiar, including Maine Governor John Fairfield and philanthropist Frank Cutter Deering.

When Do the Daffodils Bloom in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco, Maine?

But each spring, Laurel Hill draws visitors eager to witness a now-beloved tradition: the breathtaking display of thousands of daffodils that blanket large sections of the cemetery's grounds. For Mainers just starting to make their way outdoors after a long, dark winter, this tradition could not be more welcome.

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The Laurel Hill daffodils tend to bloom around the end of April, with peak blossoms appearing through the first week of May. Visitors will also be treated to bursts of pink from cherry trees blossoming.

Visitors should keep in mind that while the grounds are known for their beautiful gardens and iconic daffodils, they should enjoy the natural beauty with a sense of respect and awareness that it is an active cemetery.

Laurel Hill Cemetery 📍 293 Beach St, Saco, ME, United States, Maine