Every spring the daffodils I first planted on this property open their first, much awaited, sunny-yellow blossoms facing the sun. This would not be an issue except that my from-the-inside view also faces the sun, and that makes this a gardening oops – GOOPs for short.

Welcome to the first of the month, the day I share one of the many gardening miss-steps I've made or witnessed in my almost 40 years of gardening. This month's GOOPs actually happens every spring in my gardens. Way back, when I planted the very first batches of daffodil bulbs on this property, I had a vision of looking out of my office window each spring to be greeted by bunches of bright yellow daffodils.

I didn't consider the orientation of the sun at the time. Nor did I consider that daffodil flowers tend to face the sun which, in my chosen planting site would mean they would turn their backs on me.

Here's the situation …

And here is my view in real life. The blossoms always open facing away from my office vantage point.

Ignore the rest of the mess in this bed. When I grabbed this photo I had not yet cut back the grasses or cleaned up the winter-blown leaves. Just look at those first opening blossoms. They are all facing east and south.

Since these first bulbs went into the ground 15 years ago, I've planted many more in beds on either side of the front yard, in front and behind the house, and along the driveway. They bloom in progression from April into May. Not all of them open with their blossoms facing the sun. Many open facing all directions.

But the first groups of daffodils I planted so many years ago do the same thing every spring.

Those on the left face east. Those toward the back face south. Those on the right face southwest. Only a few blossoms face north or northeast, the direction of my from-the-inside view.

To be able to enjoy the unique aspects of each blossom I have to walk outside – not a bad thing – or pick the flowers for an indoor bouquet – not a bad thing either.

Any guesses as to which blossoms get picked first?

Yep, those turning their back on me. One way or another these daffodils are going to show me their faces. If not in their outside display, then they'll show off in a vase in plain view from my office.

Head to this American Daffodil Society explanation about daffodils and similar bulbs, and how best to plant them … it's quite informative.

Do you have a GOOPs to share? You can divulge your tale of woe or humor in a comment below, or write a GOOPs post on your own blog. Just leave a teaser comment below so readers will visit your post.

Don't be shy … anyone can join. After all, if you're not making mistakes in the garden you are not gardening hard enough.