Paperwhites

In the fall, when bulbs are in the stores, we buy two sacks of paperwhites -- not to plant in the garden nor to have blooming by Christmas.

Instead, we prefer to start the bulbs in mid December so that by the time the Christmas decorations come down, they are at least in bud.

We don't plant all of the bulbs at once, preferring to space plantings about 2 weeks apart.

We do our plantings in sets of three --

because two of the pots are for the breakfast room sideboard

While the third is for the breakfast room table. The first set are planted in the blue and white "bulb bowl". I'd like to have another, and perhaps some day I shall. It was bought at a museum shop on a vacation years ago for it's a reproduction of an old Colonial bulb bowl.

The small white blooms of the paperwhites and their fragrance fill the breakfast room for most of January and February. Giving us the promise that spring will come!

The breakfast room is also the "nursery" where we nurture the bulbs until they're ready for their show!!!

And because they were forced, the bulbs are a "toss away" -- they can't be planted to bloom again. But in the middle of January and in February when it's often very cold and some days snowy, their bloom and fragrance is much welcomed at Linderhof -- short-lived though they may be.

It's Wednesday and although the paperwhites are inside they are really outside plants and so I'm joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday and since they are paperwhites, I'm joining Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday.