Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
PICTURED ABOVE, and in comforting contrast to the threatening snowstorm outside, is Tulipa ‘Christmas Dream.’ This early single tulip, with enchanting, pastel-pink petals edged in white, grows on the broad sill in my bedroom. And here is a photo gallery of other forced hardy bulbs in the house, all dressed in their February finery (click photos to enlarge):
In a setting of fragrant, pink freesias, white Snowdrops and blue Iris reticulata, the white, purple-veined Crocus ‘Pickwick’ blooms in the Music Room window.
The previously-mentioned Iris reticulata ‘Clairette,’ its blue petals licked with gold.
Also in the Music Room, and boasting 10-15 buds per stem, is the creamy white and powerfully scented Narcissus ‘Erlicheer.’
Fragrant too is the orange and yellow Narcissus ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’ that blooms on the pebble tray in the upstairs bath.
Perched on an old, cast-iron lamp bracket is this Anemone, or “Grecian Wind Flower,” with violet-blue petals and a lime-green eye edged in white.
The blue-gray Puschkinia, so effective en masse in the outdoor border, makes a pleasant window subject too. It blooms here in a south window, between pots of Begonia semperflorens.
Do you love hyacinths too? Above is a row of ‘Blue Jacket,’ forced in bulb glasses, and arranged on the latch ledge of the parlor window.
If, in autumn, you forgot to plant a few hardy bulbs for your own private spring, don’t despair! Your florist will have from now through March already-forced purple hyacinths and golden daffodils. A few pots of these fragrant harbingers will brighten the whole houseplant picture…and do wonders for your winter-weary soul.
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Related Posts:
Hardy Bulbs for Winter Windows
How To Force Freesia Bulbs
It’s Freesia Time!
Iris Reticulata
Snowdrops: A Prelude to Spring
Gregory says
Kevin, you are so right about bulbs. As you know, I live in NYC, where a whopper of a snow storm (15 inches expected) is underway. It is the bulbs that keep me sane at this time. I have 6 hyacinths in bloom, 2 each: 'Delft Blue,' 'White Pearl' and 'Pink Pearl.' All unbelievably fragrant. I also have a big pot of grape hyacinths (muscari) about to bloom, plus a few paperwhites left over from the holidays.
I encourage anyone who lives in the city to grow bulbs! It's the only way to enjoy the sights and smells of spring, intimately!
Gregory says
Didn't mean to lecture. I just LOVE bulbs!!!
Gardenlady says
Kevin, now I know where spring spends the winter. In YOUR house!
Seriously, I'm drooling over your flowers, especially the purple crocuses and the pink Christmas Dream tulips.
Randy J says
Kevin,
The photos are beautiful. I particularly like the simple row of Dutch Hyacinths in clear glass bulb vases on he latch sill of the window.
It is just not possible to have too many bulbs blooming indoors in the winter! They are a constant pick me up and offer reassurance on grey snowy days that there actually will be a spring this year! Even for those of us who are too impatient to wait for it!
Barb says
Kevin – love the photos, your enthusiasm (and the enthusiasm of your readers) concerning bulbs. As I eagerly wait for spring to arrive and my outdoor crocus, hyacinth and tulip bulbs to emerge, I can tell what the whole forcing-fervor is about! Oh well…there's always next year!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Gregory – Your enthusiasm is overwhelming…and greatly appreciated!!!
Gardenlady – Not to worry. I'll send spring your way in late March. I promise.
Randy J – Glad you like the photos; as you know, it's quite a challenge to photograph plants in windows. And I agree, it's not possible to have too many flowering bulbs in winter!
Barb – Thanks for your kind words. Once you have successfully forced spring-flowering bulbs in winter, you become an addict!
Sally says
Very, very beautiful. Your house must look (and smell) like springtime.
Charles M. says
I didn't force any bulbs this year, but I did buy a pot of in-bloom tete a tete daffodils for my office. They DO make me feel that it's spring!
Gardenlady says
As do the potted in-bud yellow tulips I bought today! Unfortunately, there's so little variety among supermarket and even florist-grown forced spring bulbs. Well, they certainly didn't have your jazzy pink Christmas Dream tulips!
Brigid says
I am very impressed by your blooming bulbs, Kevin!!!
I have an amaryllis that is opening up dramatically right now. I have to check your notes to see how I can preserve this after the bloom falls off. I saw it on this blog somewhere the other day!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Brigid – here it is: https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2010/01/seductive-amaryllis
Paula says
Dear Kevin, I just came from your presentation of A Garden for the House to the Helderview Garden Club. I wanted to tell you again how much I enjoyed it and how beautiful you window gardens are. You have inspired me to try a window garden of my own. Thank you so much. Paula
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Paula – it was a delight meeting you!
Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter…that way you won't miss anything at A Garden for the House!
Hope you'll visit again soon…
Dana says
Dear Kevin,
I got some anemone bulbs on sale and I was thinking of refrigerating them for two months and planting them afterward. However, the bulbs look dried out and I now understand why it is recommended that I soak them before planting. So, I wonder, if I chill the dried bulbs will they sense it? Or do they need to be chilled only after soaking and planting? I don't really have the means to put them in a fridge after planting. I could plant them now and put them out on the balcony, but the soil will freeze before the bulbs will have a chance to develop roots and the weather may not be consistently cold over the next two months. What would you recommend so that I may have a chance to have them bloom this year?
Many thanks,
Dana
P.S. My freesias, watered much more carefully as per your recommendation, have recovered from the brown spots and have continued to grow (the spots remained but they did not extend). The longest leaves are now over 24″ but I still don't see any flowering stem. I am waiting patiently.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Dana – since it is so late in the season, go ahead and chill the bulbs in the fridge for 8 weeks. Then soak and plant. No guarantees, but it might just work.
Regarding freesias, mine haven't produced any flower stalks yet, either. They are extremely pokey this year! I hope the grower fed the bulbs last summer before digging them up and shipping them off to market!
Dana says
Kevin – Thanks a lot for the great advice. Perhaps you can post a note when your freesias will start blooming. Best regards, Dana.
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