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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

It makes me happy

I love this stocking stuffer. Every Christmas my mom-in-law drops a hyacinth bulb in my stocking as a little reminder to hang in there til spring. As soon as I get home I place it in a bud vase so that the water reaches just the tips of the root sprouts at the base of the bulb. Within a couple of days the roots begin to grow happily down and before I know it there's a little green sprout. Then there it is, new life right there in my kitchen when everything outside is still sleeping. This makes me happy.


See here for more information on stimulating bulbs to grow out of season, AKA forcing bulbs. Don't let all the various instructions scare you too bad. For the hyacinth bulbs, we've had lots of luck just making sure to properly package the bulb in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks so that it's conditioned. That's the only special treatment that I know of. After that it's just making sure the water level is good in the bud vase and we watch it grow.

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15 comments:

Sam said...

I'm reminded of that episode in Full House where DJ Tanner was obsessed with losing weight so she would look good in a bathing suit. She would stave herself and do cardio for what seemed like hours. She would fool her family by pretending to eat but would actually give her sandwiches to Comet. By the way, did you notice that Uncle Jesse's last name in the beginning was Cochran and then is just magically changed to Kotsopolis? What's up with that?

Amy Kingman said...

LOL Thank you for the COMPLETELY relevant comment! It also makes me happy. :D

Amy Kingman said...

Oh, and also, maybe there's this whole back story that they could never fit into an episode that revolves around him finding out that who he thought were his parents weren't actually his parents at all, then there was this wild goose chase across the globe as he searched for his biological family... well you get the picture... it was probably just too expensive to produce since it took place outside the house.

Sam said...

Well if the show had the budget to send them to Hawaii and have Jesse sing with the Beach Boys, they could definitely afford having Jesse shoot a few episodes in Santorini. "Have Mercy!"

Amy Kingman said...

Maybe they figured singing with the beach boys was a more interesting story than "jesse finds out who his real parents are"? Ooooor.... maybe you know WAY too much about this show!

Sam said...

Remember how it was such a big deal that the guy who played DJ's boyfriend, Steve, was also the voice of Aladdin? I was blown away. Couldn't sleep for days. I started every conversation with "Now when did you last let your heart decide?"

Amy Kingman said...

LOL... STOP LITTERING MY BLOG COMMENT WITH YOUR FULL HOUSE MEMORABILIA!!!

Amanda said...

My husband is completely crazy. Anyways, I am not exactly a green thumb, but I would like to try this sometime. Maybe it would help me get through winter (hint hint Sam).

Amy Kingman said...

You know what, last winter I got a little bud vase/bulb combo kit from Lowes for Ash. The bulbs are already conditioned and ready to sprout. You might look at Lowes to see if they have em this year. They even have different kinds of flowers. :D

Amy Kingman said...

Also, I used one of those little olive oil carafes from ikea as a bulb vase one year.

Anonymous said...

i love your blog, i found via shutter sister, thank you for the advise for bulbs, i love them!!! i will try!

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

Found my way over via today's shutter sisters post.....I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your space.

Have a happy weekend :)

Balbina Arias said...

Bulbs and photos and cozy and cheeful makes me happy too!

i've joined it and i hope starting next monday!

finally i didn't make that photo stuff i told you, amy i'm sorry, but i haven't forgotten about telling u. a clue: it was sth about my blog's raffle, and i though you'd like to joining it, but i'm still quite down (doctors, back pain...) and i need to calm down. but i place u for the next time!

don't hesitate to come to my Rooftop, now you can understand it as well ;P

happy weekend!

spread your wings said...

came here via SS. what a wonderful idea of giving a bulb in the Christmas stocking - a reminder of spring to come. beautiful photo

Amy Kingman said...

kosenrufu mama: Thanks! I love Shutter Sisters. Found many interesting and inspiring women through that site! I'm glad you liked the bulb idea. My mom in law is a master gardener so she always has great ideas for things that grow. I wish you luck with your bulbs!

wayfaring wanderer: Thanks for visiting! Have a happy weekend as well!

smilax: Goodness! Hope you start feelin better soon! Back pain is the WORST!

spread your wings: Thanks! And yes, getting the bulb in the Christmas stocking is always super exciting! You really can't beat the smell of a freshly blooming hyacinth in the middle of winter. It's wonderful. :)