The days have gotten really short. I find myself noticing sunsets with dismay because it means there will be no more daylight until a full hour after I get up the next morning. Usually my craving for daylight and growing plants doesn’t settle in until after the holidays are over. This year it’s hit me a little early, so I’ve already started to take action. Last year I combated the emotions by digging up bulbs from my yard and planting them in pots. It was nice to have growing things inside, but not one of them bloomed. I want live flowers in January. This year I’ve decided to go the time honored route of paying for someone else to correctly force the bulbs. Today I bought an oriental lily. It has one big white bloom and a dozen buds. I also bought a little campanula plant. It is also white because apparently the only plants available this time of year are either white or poinsettas. I think that at the beginning of January I’ll find places selling potted hyacinths and tulips that will have bright colors. I’ll buy those then. For now I’m happy to have the smell of wet earth, live plants, and blooms where I can wander past and enjoy them.
7 thoughts on “Winter Gardening again”
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If you do find tulips in January, let me know where. I love those bright colors.
You could always get a Christmas Cactus. Mother has several, and this year it’s just possible that one will be flowering at Christmas. This will be a first, if so – normally, they flower in November, or January, or any time except Christmas.
Go for an amarylis — they’re stunning and they bloom right around Christmas and thereafter.
I’d love an amarylis, but each bulb costs $15-$20 and I haven’t convinced myself that it is okay for me to spend that much.
Sandra, I wish we lived closer to one another. I have a Christmas lily that is in DESPERATE need of being divided up. If you can find one out there, they bloom a brilliant red during the winter months.
That sounds beautiful. I’ll have to look around here to see if I can find one.
My mother’s always bloomed around Easter. We decided it had it’s holidays mixed up.