New traditions.

It dawned on me this Christmas that my Mother-in-law, Susan, has started a new family tradition. This Christmas was the third year running I received a pot containing Hyacinth bulbs planted up. So I think I can safely say this is a new, and rather wonderful Christmas tradition, don't you? I like this gift................ A bit like magazine subscriptions, it extends my Christmas present. Hugo gives me a subscription to Selvedge magazine every year, and each time I get my new copy in the post, it feels like receiving a gift. These bulbs were marvellously slow to start growing............... talk about suspense! You see I never know what the colour of the flowers will be. After waiting a month, they suddenly started to work their magic, and their colour was revealed.............. White this year. Last year it was pink, the year before, blue. I love them all. I also love it when they first start to grow, strong and sculptural. When the the flowers appear, and the perfume is released, it's heady............... they're really quite dramatic plants aren't they? .................When the flowers start to bend precariously, I always feel that is the moment they need to be seen in all their glory as cut flowers. And this is when they take on a new kind of splendour............... in a vase. It's like they've evolved into a bouquet of flowers, and that's like receiving a bonus gift. This gift............. the generosity of its duration............... makes it a very meaningful tradition. What a great idea this new tradition is. If my five year old Niece Millie didn't live so far away, it would be the sort of tradition I'd love to start with her. When I visited recently, I gave a bunch of daffodils as a gift, which had not yet opened. Millie asked me each morning if they had opened yet, and when they would open. I loved her fascination and excitement over the daffodils opening up. It surprised me too. So that's what makes me think Millie might like this Hyacinth tradition. I think there has to be some way around the distance problem, don't you?

Comments

[kitschen pink]

I'm quite sure if you sought out a good local florist they could oblige for you!alternatively you could package up a bulb and one of those glass growing jars so she can see the roots develop too!
I LOVE Selvedge magazine! What a super prezzie!

[Rachel MacInnes]

My baby niece lives far away too - so I started to send her a little package every month. I don't put in 'big' things or presents, just little things I notice day by day that she might like: pictures from her cousins, fimo hearts and elephants, postcards from a gallery, scraps of ribbon and patterned paper. It makes me feel more connected to her in an everyday way, rather than special auntie way (which is also nice). And really, who doesn't like getting a surprise package in the post?
Rachel

[Lucy@Attic24]

I agree, a delighful gift to be savoured and treasured.
www.plants4gifts.co.uk do potted hyacinths by post.

But I think the above comment is great : you can buy a dry prepared bulb from a garden centre and send it to Millie with one of those glass bulb vases to grow it in water (or even a narrow-necked jam jar, we used to use coffee jars as kids to grow hyacinths), tied with a pretty ribbon or raffia with a hand painted tag. I would ADORE that as a gift!!!!

Enjoyed your bean-spilling email yesterday vanessa, thanks!!! Will email you a reply when get chance.

[greedy nan]

Can almost smell them from here!
I bought some for my daughter who's been poorly and she just gawped at them and said but what do I do with it? I told her to enjoy them on her kitchen windowsill - she's not that into plants but I'll wear her down eventually ...

[Pipany]

Oh I do love your blog. Just gorgeous xx

[donna]

You are so clever V. I have often wondered what to do with the bending blooms and end up tying them with twine but they don't look very pretty then. Of course, put them in a vase, brilliant!

I came here to say that this evening I was putting my daughter to bed and she pulled out a book for me to read. It happened to be a Christmas one which made me groan because I want to stop reading Christmas stories now. Then I spotted a familiar name on the cover. It is Dear Father Christmas, Illustrated by you :-) Suddenly I didn't mind reading it to her and I told her that I knew the lady who drew the pictures and that she buys Mummy's fabrics. She went to sleep a happy girl!

[trudette]

Such beautiful pictures , I can smell them :)

[Lulu]

i love these and been seeing them in some blogs..I wish i knew about these beautiful plants sooner, i guess its to late for them now, right?man, iam so bummed..

[Helen Lambert]

what a good idea ...I am going to pop mine in a vase after I have typed this...... they are leaning over very dangerously towards the table...perhaps they are reading my book....why dont you get your niece one of those old fashioned bulb vases so she can see the long wigly roots growing as well as the shoots from the bulb...polls used to love them...your pictures are wonderful...the last ones look like waxed 1950's flowers...I actually used the phrase 'do you mind if I knit?' at an afternoon tea party on friday and I had to chuckle to myself.......happy week sweetie...I am off today waiting to get a Drs appointment so feeling very sorry for myself....Polly is in charge.....

[Helen Lambert]

I have a terrible habit of not reading other peoples comments and of course eveyone has suggested a bulb vase!!!! and there was me thinking I was original...I have a selvedge subscription but mine hasn't arrived this quarter ...neither has my friends has yours?...its in the shops....

[Kathryn]

What a lovely gift. They look wonderful I bet they smell jolly good too.
Kathryn

[katie]

ooh - nice pictures - lovely - can almost smell them!
nice blog too!
hello to you!

[julia thompson]

I love hyacinths - we used to plant them at primary school - they would sit in a dark cupboard over winter. x Love Julie

[Fyrewitch]

They are beautiful! I'm looking forward to winter rolling around here so that flowers won't die instantly in the heat!

[Tamara Erbacher]

Hi There, I was just reading through your post and noticed that you were having a 'flopping' problem with your Hyacinths...now I am no expert however my bulbs arrived in the post yesterday with an accompanying article which states:

"To stop your flower flopping, after planting in a pot, place in a pot in a shaded position until the foliage is 5-10cm, then move to a sunny poition, once flowering they can be bought indoors."

Maybe this may help in the future:)

They are sooo beautiful all the same...

Tam xo

[mary]

Let me congratulate you for the quality of your photos !