ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Daffodils are a symbol of new beginnings. The golden flower is a favorite of Bill Whitney's.

"The daffodils are still coming. I have to give them credit because, man, they've been blooming since February," said Whitney, founder of The Daffodil Project at Mount Hope Cemetery.

What You Need To Know

  • The Daffodil Project is a charitable organization to spread joy at Mount Hope Cemetery 

  •  Volunteers helped plant 33,000 daffodils with Bill Whitney

  • Future projects include the addition of stairs, benches and continued plantings at the cemetery

A couple of years ago, he started planting daffodils at his favorite Victorian cemetery, the 196-acre high hills and deep valleys of Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester. He planted 1,000 daffodil bulbs in hopes of bringing back the famous glacier-formed kettle to its original 1840 design.

"Just look at them," laughed Whitney as he pointed to thousands of daffodils in bloom.

The daffodils look like nature's hug to those buried at the cemetery. But 1,000 bulbs just wasn't enough for Bill, so with permission from the city and help from volunteers and donations, he started The Daffodil Project in 2022. Today, 33,000 daffodils brighten up the hillside.

"It is so peaceful here. You can feel it right now. It's just a wonderful experience," said Whitney.

There are three seasons of something in bloom at the cemetery.

"The bottom section is all ferns and the next two layers are perennial beds, and right along the road, I have 2,000 fall blooming crocuses here, so there will always be something to come and visit at the kettle," said Whitney.

Bill says this will be his final resting place. His stone reads "Nothing Gold Can Stay," the title of a Robert Frost poem.

"If you look right down here, that's my stone," said Whitney. "I don't have a lot of family here, because family is scattered all over the country. I've always thought people would come and see my daffodils and maybe think about the old man at the same time."

To give the gift of daffodils or to donate to the effort, click here.

Daffodil Days will celebrate the second anniversary of the project on Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery.