‘Daffodil Smile’ blooming on expressway in Waterloo
Posted Apr 28, 2026 03:06:59 PM.
Last Updated Apr 30, 2026 03:02:41 PM.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The mystery of KW’s Unknown Gardener has come to an end after 570 NewsRadio was contacted by a man claiming he planted the smiles. Read the full story here.
Every spring, a bright yellow smile greet commuters on the expressway in Waterloo.
The “Daffodil Smile” has popped up on the embankment at the University Avenue East exit for years, but how it got there is an urban legend and contested.
Jocelyn Schaefer, who was a guest on The Mike Farwell Show, claims her father was the one who started the planting. She says he was an English teacher from Bluevale Collegiate, who told his daughter that he and his class were the ones behind the smile.
“My dad and I were just driving on the expressway one day, and I happened to, off the cuff, say ‘Look at that daffodil smile,’ and his face lit up. All of a sudden, he told me he had put it there with his class. From then on, it’s meant a lot to me, and even when it’s not blooming, I know it’s there.”
She went to say that every time she drives by, she’s reminded of her dad.
“It brings back so many memories about my dad being a wonderful person and how much I miss him. If I’m having a bad day, I will for sure go for a drive and sit on the side of the expressway, and I will look at that smile. And if I’m not able to pull over, I still look at that smile, and I know that he’s with me regardless.”
While the smile reminds Schaefer of her father, the myth of who really planted the smiles is unknown.
Schaefer admits she doesn’t know when her dad’s class planted the daffodils, but he retired in 2004. She is hoping to hear from students involved in the planting.
Daffodils are perennial flowers, so they don’t need to be replanted each year, yet it appears someone cares for the garden.
“I personally would like to do that myself, but it’s a safety concern for me,” said Schaefer, “I would think I would have to probably talk to somebody at the City of Waterloo just to see that I’m not breaking any bylaws or anything.”
She went on to say, “I would certainly love to get in contact with somebody to see if I can plant some more seeds or if I can weed, just keep it looking vibrant and healthy because I want it to be enjoyed by people for many years to come.”
There are several other daffodil smiles in the community, but who tends to them remains a mystery and has widely been attributed to the so-called Unknown Gardener.
