CLEVELAND — Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland is the final resting place for former President James A. Garfield and American business magnate John D. Rockefeller. It’s also home to a well-known memorial, the Angel of Death Victorious, at the gravesite of the Haserot family. But every spring, visitors travel from across the state to view the blooms of Daffodil Hill.
Dr. William Weir was an amateur gardener who specialized in daffodils. He gifted the cemetery the original collection of 6,000 bulbs around 1941.
The hill now boasts more than 150,000 daffodils, according to Lake View Cemetery. The attraction includes mostly Carlton and King Alfred daffodils, varieties known for their size and vibrance.
Kathy Goss is the president and CEO of Lake View Cemetery. She said every year, their team assesses the blooms, looks for any bald spots, and plants more bulbs as needed in the fall.
Each year, the daffodils reach peak bloom at a different point. This year, Goss expects peak bloom over the next week or so, and said Easter weekend is an ideal time to visit.
Lake View Cemetery doesn't track how many visitors travel to see the blooms each year. However, Goss said during peak hours, they have up to 200 cars per hour drive through the cemetery to see the flowers.
Goss said guests are welcome to park and take photos, but they ask that you don’t pick any of the flowers so future visitors can enjoy them, too.
A weekly progress report on the blooms is available here.