Why didn't you remind us?! White Flower Farm is our favorite vendor for bulbs & there are still many in stock. Whether you have a garden or a deck (we don't) or not, remember to start forcing bulbs now. You will be so very happy if you do this now.
ciao/xo
It's time, people! (Oops, it's past time.) Check shops & online for bulbs to force inside. Catalogue copy will usually indicate if a bulb is suitable for indoors persuasion. If you've never done this before, see Concha's post--with lovely photographs--on paperwhites; here's a good post on the ease of forcing regular old crocus bulbs. Kevin Lee Jacobs has an excellent post on indoor bulbs on Garden Design.Giulia's editor has a longing for hyacinth & muscari this year. Hyacinth bulbs aren't as inexpensive as some others, so we're mulling it over. Possibly, we have mulled until (perhaps) the only hyacinth available will be single bulbs in the market. In which case, sold.
ciao-bloom-meow/GGCM PS: You have time to plant last-minute bulb purchases outside. It's true, believe us. We've planted clearance-priced bulbs in the stinging cold.
Though the illustrations & exhortation below are from the archives, we're running it a month early. There are sales everywhere online & in stores on bulbs. GG is sorry that her editor did not buy more bulbs last year (before they ran out...see? Happened to us, too). Giulia likes to lounge in front of floral displays, so as to set off her expensive highlighted fur to best advantage. Oh, & on another note, The Harmless, Necessary Cat is starring on her editor's blog, bricolage, right now. ciao-meow
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This is a reminder to lay in some bulbs--soon. We don't have a garden either (anymore) but are fairly adept at 'persuading the paperwhite.' Actually paperwhites are easy & in stores now. However, if you buy some bulbs on the weekend, you can force those as well. (We prefer the word persuade.) Follow-up links & reminders to articles forthcoming but you have to buy the bulbs really, really soon. Or you'll be green with envy over all those displays of tulips & other bulbs from the holidays into next spring. We really don't want to hear complaining! (And while you're at it, what do you mean you don't have a pumpkin yet? OK. Well, neither do we...)
ciao-meow/GG's gardener & pumpkin carver
(vintage illustrations via Free Vintage Flowers & Seed Packets/GG collage)
This is a reminder to lay in some bulbs--soon. We don't have a garden either (anymore) but are fairly adept at 'persuading the paperwhite.' Actually paperwhites are easy & in stores now. However, if you buy some bulbs on the weekend, you can force those as well. (We prefer the word persuade.) Follow-up links & reminders to articles forthcoming but you have to buy the bulbs really, really soon. Or you'll be green with envy over all those displays of tulips & other bulbs from the holidays into next spring. We really don't want to hear complaining! (And while you're at it, what do you mean you don't have a pumpkin yet? OK. Well, neither do we...)
ciao-meow/GG's gardener & pumpkin carver
[vintage illustrations via Free Vintage Flowers & Seed Packets/GG collage]
Dreadful photos, sorry. The late great darling Oliver & bulbs. Recently read Persuading Bulbs to Bloom by Anne Raver in late October & finally checked out some bulb prices. Wow, have the prices gone up! The days of four pots (minimum) blooming are not making a return (this year), still a few pots through the winter are uplifting. There's a much wider choice of bulbs to "force" nowadays. Not just paperwhites, but all the minor & major bulbs. Try to get them soon though...many websites are sold out. There are still some in the stores.
GG's editor
It's been warm but before you know it...you'll be sorry you didn't put in enough (or any). Bulb planting is the gardener's proverbial confidence that spring will return. What with the dreadful news all around, a little confidence couldn't be a bad thing. We're just saying...
It's time (almost past time) to persuade the paperwhite (& others). Please see here for last year's New York Times article by Anne Raver on forcing bulbs. Also, here on GG's editor's blog. Yes, she does more than cater to GG & (try to) persuade people on other, weightier matters. For instant gratification, amaryllis & paperwhite kits are hard to beat...but branch out. If you don't have a cold mudroom, garage, balcony, don't worry, a fridge will do just fine. You'll be so happy if you do this, trust us.