Bud and Florence McQuade were married for 60 years but had a love story for the ages. You can even visit their old home to see remnants of that love if you travel to 70 Cross Highway in Redding, Connecticut.
In fact, people who drive by can’t help but stop and stare.
Posted by Barbara Reilly Dunne on Saturday, April 15, 2017
Flowers for Florence
Florence loved daffodils. And because Bud loved Florence, he would plant some for her every year.
Bud was also a military veteran who served in the US Army. He then became a teacher at the local high school and spoke often of his love of learning and working. That’s how he came to build his own home for his family in the 1940s.
But it’s the garden of daffodils that draws people in. Sixty years worth – and after Florence passed, he would divide the bulbs each year, doubling the yield for the next year as a tribute to her.
Love continues to bloom
Even in old age, Bud continued the daffodil tradition. And because his home was such a welcome sign of Spring, neighbors and community members would help him. As he reached age 100, he could count on people heading out to help him split and re-plant the bulbs in late Spring.
Posted by Barbara Reilly Dunne on Saturday, April 15, 2017
Bud lived to be 103 years old, passing away in 2019. His daffodils for Florence, however, remain as a reminder of the couple’s love.
Today, there are somewhere around 40,000 daffodils on the old McQuade property!
A prime location
When Bud died, the community assumed that someone would buy the house and do what they wanted with the land.
Then, a neighbor stepped in.
Stacey Steinmetz bought the property to ensure it stayed a local landmark and a testament to true love.
“I guess, just like his love grew, the field continues to grow. You know, it’s everlasting and it’s expanding, so I certainly wouldn’t want that to be lost,” Steinmetz told CBS News.
Today, the property is open to anyone who would like to stroll amidst the daffodils and welcome the Spring.
All are welcome
Steinmetz isn’t just maintaining the property, she truly wants people to visit and has been adding signs to let people know they are welcome to get out of their cars and explore.
With street parking available (though some complain about having to cross the busy road), the only rule is to be careful to follow the newly-installed walking paths around the property and not crush the flowers while trying to get photos.
(It’s popular with families taking photos of their children, so it’s not hard to imagine some potential damage).
A long-standing sign of spring
New and rare daffodil varieties are also being planted each year, according to the property’s Facebook page.
There are wildflowers that sprout up throughout the property and trees to give shade. However, the property is mowed to ensure no weeds take root
“Mowing 6-8 weeks after the daffodils have faded is very important. Weeds or invasive species can get a strong hold in the soil and deplete nutrients from the daffodil bulbs,” read a Facebook post.
But if you miss the blooms, there’s always next year. Since the property has become a local treasure, it seems not to be going anywhere.
Check out the stunning beauty in the video below!
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