Newport in Bloom and the founders of Daffodillion are formally requesting that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the Newport City Council restore the approximately 90,000 Dutch Master daffodil bulbs along the Pell Bridge off-ramps, Roundabout, and the Farewell-America’s Cup Avenue corridor. These areas underwent major renovations which resulted in the removal of the bulbs during RIDOT construction.
The 90,000 bulbs, acquired over several years through a combination of public and private donations, had long formed a beloved springtime welcome for the two million residents and visitors who pass through Newport’s most prominent entryway each April and May. Their removal left a striking visual void at one of the city’s most visible and critical public spaces.
Citing RIDOT’s prior verbal commitment to restore the bulbs and the current landscaping plans now under review with the city, we formally request that RIDOT and the City incorporate all 90,000 Dutch Master daffodils into the planned landscape installation this fall. An October-December planting will ensure a spectacular first bloom in Spring 2027 — and for many years afterward.
Respectfully,
Joan Jacobs, Chair
Newport in Bloom
Newport in Bloom is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the beautification of the historic city of Newport, Rhode Island, through the planting of flowers, gardens, and community-driven horticultural projects.
Daffodillion, now part of Newport in Bloom, was a community initiative focused on beautifying Newport by planting over one million daffodils across the city, establishing it as a premier springtime destination.
