You are going to miss a golden opportunity in the Sierra Foothills this spring whether you like it or not.

There will be no golden carpet awaiting visitors to Daffodil Hill in the village of Volcano in Amador County. Mother Nature is to blame.

“We are sorry to inform you that due to the unusual weather, Daffodil Hill will not be opening for the 2018 season,” the Ryan family announced this past week on their Facebook page. “Since the end of February we have had rain, hail, and snow every week. The early flowers are gone and the ones that are up are badly damaged. We are posting this notice since more rain and snow are expected this week.”

The message was addressed to Friends of Daffodil Hill. This natural attraction in Amador County attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life every year who come to enjoy the seven-acre golden carpet that is part of the Ryan family’s 540-acre ranch. Visitors who make a stop here every day by the thousands in early spring to admire the delicate and colorful flowers come not only from all over California, but also from as far away as Nevada. This private garden spread is open to all every spring – weather permitting, as illustrated by its closure for the 2018 season.

The plant inventory grows between 12,000 and 17,000 new bulbs every year, each planted by the multi-generational family members by hand. Donations from visitors are used to purchase new bulbs.

To those who have been looking forward to visiting the attraction this spring, the Ryan family’s Facebook message suggests that they can use that time to explore and enjoy the “beauty, shopping, wineries, and great restaurants Amador County has to offer.”

For more information, visit the Daffodil Hill Facebook page or call 209-296-7048.