This is the view I have as I write this post. I think it’s safe to say that winter has arrived bringing that special kind of beauty we don’t see any other time of the year…I love it!
Although we won’t be in our gardens for the next 3-4 months, it’s still possible to satisfy our desire to grow beauty. I do that by forcing bulbs to enjoy over the holidays.
My favourites are Paperwhites. I know many of you don’t like their scent but to me, it is the scent of the season. Can you think of another time of the year when a fragrance hits you so profoundly as you walk into a room? The power of this scent is unforgettable, bringing back memories of Christmases past…
Paperwhites are so easy to grow. You can plant them in soil or pebbles, which is my preference. I stagger my planting times so that they are in bloom throughout the holidays.
There is still time to plant Paperwhites for Christmas!
I planted three different varieties of Amaryllis in one container. It will be interesting to see if they all bloom simultaneously. It could be fabulous or a hot mess! In my mind, I see something dynamic! The bulbs are huge and appear to be healthy. I’m guessing I’ll have to add some infrastructure (i.e. branches) to support the weight of the stems and keep them upright.
Unfortunately, I planted my Amaryllis too late to bloom by Christmas, but in mid-January, they should be ready.
Adding greenery to your holiday decor can be as simple as tucking moss into containers that reflect your decorating theme or style. I’ll be adding these small urns along with the dining table centrepiece.
xox Judy❤️
Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating today.
I love Christmas flowers but count on florists/costco 😁to start the plants/bulbs. Do you purchase bulbs locally or on-line?
Have a wonderful Christmas season! Diane
Hi Diane, I get my bulbs from a garden centre and usually Home Depot carries them too. They are so easy to plant and basically no fail! Wishing you a happy Christmas season too! xox Judy❤️
Paperwhites are my favourite as well Judy. There’s something really sweet and delicate about them. I haven’t seen any in the stores so far and I’m reluctant to buy amaryllis this year because we ended up having a horrible bug infestation from the ones I bought last year. Caught the soil “moving” 😱out of the corner of my eye one evening last Christmas and so I think I’d rather opt for the paperwhites this year😂. Maybe I’ll get adventurous and buy some amaryllis and throw out the soil and just use pebbles since that seems less hospitable for creepy crawlies. Thank you so much for the “forcing calendar”…fantastic information! Hugs, Karen xo❤️
Yikes! I would be a little iffy too if I saw something move in the Amaryllis container! I have always planted mine in pebbles and have never, fingers crossed, had a problem. I saw Paperwhites at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago. Maybe they still have some left. Good Luck! xox Judy❤️
Thanks so much for letting me know Judy. I’ll check out Home Depot the first chance I get and pick up some pebbles at the same time. Wish me luck and thanks so much again! Hugs, Karen xo❤️