40th Spotlight: Jonquil Bulb Sale
You may know that Keep Smyrna Beautiful sells jonquil bulbs every fall, but do you know why?
The beginning of jonquils in Smyrna
According to Mike Terry’s book A Simpler Time about the history of the Taylor-Brawner house, jonquils were introduced by Stephen and Louisa Taylor when their son Henry Taylor shipped the bulbs to Smyrna from his home in Spokane, Washington in the late 1800s.
The Taylors shared the bulbs with friends and neighbors, and the the tradition of planting jonquils in Smyrna was born.
The “Jonquil City” name
According to an Atlanta-Journal Constitution article, by the 1930s, Atlanta Road was lined with front yards that featured jonquil flowers. Local garden clubs encouraged planting the bulbs for beautification purposes and to promote Smyrna as a tourist destination.
Around this time, Smyrna starting to become known as the “Jonquil City.” (This Concord Covered Bridge blog post has some fun excerpts from the Marietta Daily Journal about the moniker!)
KSB continues the tradition
In 1986, Keep Smyrna Beautiful – then known as Smyrna Clean and Beautiful – picked up the mantle and started the annual jonquil bulb sale. Known then as “The Great Jonquil Gold Rush,” the sale was awarded national recognition from Keep America Beautiful in its early years.
Now a fall staple, the annual sale distributes thousands of jonquil bulbs to city residents each year. Records indicate that KSB has sold more than a million bulbs over the last 38 years.
Where to buy jonquil bulbs this fall
This year, a limited number of bulbs will be available for purchase starting in late September. To be notified when they arrive, fill out our online form. They will be available to purchase at the Smyrna Recycling Center during regular operating hours and at KSB’s booth at the Crafts & Drafts Festival on October 26 and 27.
