News & Updates

Daffodils Across the Ozarks

To celebrate the CFO’s 50th anniversary in 2023, 50,000 daffodil bulbs were planted in Springfield and more than 40 rural communities across the region.

The CFO's 50th Anniversary

Regionwide beautification project symbolizes perpetual power of place-based philanthropy

Mass plantings of 50,000 daffodils are now blooming in Springfield and more than 40 rural communities across central and southern Missouri. This regionwide beautification effort, part of the 50^th anniversary celebration for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, will be on display for the next several weeks and will rebloom for years to come.

Daffodils were selected because they naturally spread and multiply over time as a symbol of place-based philanthropy and planned giving. The bulbs were planted last fall by a wide variety of community volunteers and supported by grants from the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation, administered by the CFO in partnership with Commerce Trust Company.

In Springfield, anniversary daffodils are located:

In a mass planting at Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park near Lake Drummond and the statue of Anne Drummond, who is an honorary founder of the CFO;
In a mass planting near the intersection of National Avenue and Sunset Street
Around downtown and the CFO’s office; and
Along several Ozark Greenways trails.

Daffodils bloom at Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. The mass planting at the park is part of 50,000 daffodils that were planted in Springfield and more than 40 rural communities across central and southern Missouri to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

Across the region, daffodils are located in the communities served by these regional affiliate foundations:

Ash Grove Area Community Foundation
Aurora Area Community Foundation
Barton County Community Foundation
Bourbon Community Foundation
Cabool Community Foundation
Cape Area Community Foundation
Carthage Community Foundation
Cassville Community Foundation
Crawford County Foundation
DACO Community Foundation (Dade County)
Dallas County Community Foundation
Dent County Community Foundation
Douglas County Community Foundation
El Dorado Springs Community Foundation
Fair Grove Area Community Foundation
Finley River Community Foundation (Ozark)
Greater Seymour Area Foundation
Community Foundation of the Hermann Area
Hickory County Community Wellness Foundation
Houston Community Foundation
Jacks Fork Community Foundation
Joplin Regional Community Foundation
Community Foundation of the Lake (Lake of the Ozarks)
Lockwood Community Foundation
Marshfield Area Community Foundation
Meramec Regional Community Foundation
Monett Area Community Foundation
Nevada/Vernon County Community Foundation
Nixa Community Foundation
Owensville Area Community Foundation
Ozark County Community Foundation
Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation
Perry County Community Foundation
Republic Community Foundation
Sarcoxie Community Foundation
St. James Area Community Foundation
Ste. Genevieve County Community Foundation
Stockton Community Foundation
Truman Lake Community Foundation (Clinton)
Community Foundation of West Plains Inc.
Willard Children’s Charitable Foundation
Willow Springs Community Foundation

Scroll down for more info and photos from the “planting parties” that took place in rural communities across central and southern Missouri during fall 2022.

About the Daffodils

The “Mama Mia” mix is a colorful blend of large cupped, trumpet and fragrant tazetta narcissus. This blend of bulbs, shipped straight from the Netherlands, is recommended for mass plantings.

Volunteers with Friends of the Garden planted 2,000 daffodil bulbs at the Springfield Botanical Gardens.

Plantings in Springfield

Volunteers with Friends of the Garden planted 2,000 bulbs at the Springfield Botanical Gardens. The planting site is near the statue of Anne Drummond, who is considered one of the CFO’s honorary founders.
The City of Springfield planted several thousand bulbs at the intersection of National Avenue and Sunset Street, near McDaniel Park.
Downtown Springfield Association planted several hundred bulbs throughout downtown Springfield.
Watershed Conservation Corps planted bulbs outside of the CFO’s office in Springfield.
Ozark Greenways planted bulbs along several trails.

Daffodil bulbs were planted at the Springfield Botanical Gardens near the bronze statue of Anne Drummond, one of the CFO’s honorary founders.

Rachel McManus, Brendan Brothers and Grant Denbow of the Watershed Conservation Corps plant daffodil bulbs near the CFO’s office in downtown Springfield.

Plantings in Affiliate Communities

Forty regional affiliate foundations participated in the daffodil project with the help of volunteer gardening and school groups. The Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation, managed by Commerce Trust Company, provided grants to support the installation of the daffodil bulbs.

Bourbon Community Foundation

Daffodil bulbs were planted by the Bourbon High School horticulture class.

Joplin Regional Community Foundation

High school students and volunteers planted 1,500 daffodil bulbs in multiple locations in the Joplin area: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Missouri, Community Clinic, Carl Junction High School, Alliance of Southwest Missouri, Ronald McDonald House, Missouri Southern State University, Kansas City University’s Medical and Dental Schools, Spiva Park, Solace House and Jasper County CASA.

Carl Junction High School’s flora and landscaping design class planted daffodils at the school.

International students from several Joplin-area schools planted daffodils at Watered Garden’s Washington Family Hope Center.

Community Foundation of the Lake

The Community Foundation of the Lake, representing the Lake of the Ozarks area, planted 1,000 bulbs at the Magic Dragon Skills Park. The park is part of the CFL’s Magic Dragon Trails initiative.

Meramec Regional Community Foundation & Owensville Area Community Foundation

In partnership with Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Meramec Regional Community Foundation and Owensville Area Community Foundation, the City of Owensville Parks & Recreation Department was awarded the Daffodil Grant Project that includes 500 daffodil bulbs and $500 in grant funds to use towards the planting and maintenance of the bulbs. On November 22, the bulbs were planted at the entrance of Memorial Park by staff and volunteers.