A Storm and a Project

Hi, guys! It's a stormy night here at the beach.

I think I should get my beginning of the week post up in case the power goes. The weather dithered all day but come nightfall, things have gotten more intense. Just wind and rain though. This is the kind of day when the local folks go around saying, At least it's not snow..."  Nope, warm-ish, high 40's.

Yesterday I planted my narcissus bulbs. Yes, I know, I do this every year, bear with me! It's such a  fun tradition for January.

My mom usually did hyacinths. She had some interesting dark jewel colored glass hyacinth jars, and with my dad's green thumb colding off  the  bulbs she had good result. I stick to Paperwhites usually.

Gather the containers. They just need to be water tight and not something you plan to later use for food . I had set out an old mixing bowl, an aluminum Jello mold, a large Mason jar, and one of my recycled grocery store delft bowls.

Last Fall I had trouble finding the paperwhite narcissus bulbs. (As I'm sure you know, paperwhite narcuissus are bred for indoor forcing, with no colding-off period needed.) I was so home-bound I missed them in the local shops and finally ordered them online via Amazon.

These are what I found. They're classic ''Ziva'' variety, and are highly scented, so everyone will whine about the awful smell, too bad.

They look really pretty and healthy, don't they? Paperwhites are sold for Christmas display, but I prefer them now, so I store the bulbs in a paper bag in a closet in a chilly entry hall. They sprouted but not too much.

These went into the blue stripe bowl.

Then when we went to the pumpkin patch in late October I found a different type of paperwhites at the garden center. Much more expensive so I only bought five. They are supposedly unscented. I put them into the the smaller containers. Nothing for the aluminum pan this year, too bad.

Fill the bowls with faux sea glass [or beach pebbles or marbles or gravel]. Nestle in the bulbs. Add a few pieces of glass to secure. Fill with water to bottoms of the bulbs...and...wait...a week or two.

 By Groundhog Day I should have lots of lovely blooms.

......................

The storm has kept the house very dark all day, so no finished project photos. Mo was a big help in the sewing room, trying out my quilt backing for Summertime.

Wind and big waves...

No ships at all.

The forecast was scary enough to keep them further out at sea, I guess.

Tomorrow perhaps more of the same.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

This blog shows paperwhites in beautiful faux birds nest baskets.  Take a look: Here
I must look for something like this, wonderfully woodland and magical.  Other gardeners show the bulbs planted, with brilliant green moss. and here

pinterest

Funny, I remember to buy bulbs but never remember moss.