How Daffodils Lost Their Beauty

Along English Bay, the yellow daffodils are out. They signal spring, and to almost everyone walking by, they are a bright touch of joy.

But for me, this flower has lost its beauty. It has become a persistent reminder of a heavy medical reality. Every time I visit the BC Cancer complex, those cheerful yellow blooms decorate the buildings and line the hallways—a permanent fixture of the clinical landscape.

The daffodil is the official symbol of the Canadian Cancer Society, chosen for several traits that reflect the cancer experience: its winter resilience, spring renewal, and sturdy strength. I understand the rationale, but the association is now inseparable from the diagnosis.

Instead, I’m opting for a personal preference. My friend Mary is an enthusiastic dahlia grower, tending to about 30 varieties in her small yard and another 100 at a community garden. I’ve taken a liking to a specific variety, and I’ll patiently wait for it to bloom: “Mustard and Ketchup.”. It’s my new cancer-free flower.