Bulbs

Spring rituals begin just after my son's birthday on March 1st. Although gardening is a lifestyle for me which never sleeps, there are obviously the seasonal hurdles to deal with. I like initiating the season with Bulbs. This is the month when last year's bulbs begin to emerge with baby green, pushing up through the mulch with their leaves which often resemble knives. It is also when I start new ones inside. This is called forcing. You can purchase bags of bulbs in greenhouses and garden centers sometimes as early as February. You can also find indoor kits that are made for showcasing your bulbs as they emerge. This Christmas, I received something similar which is where I got these Narcissus. These are also called Paperwhites. They will make green, grassy foliage and will bloom in a bright window. The bittersweet nature of all bulbs is that they are incredibly gorgeous, often fragrant, but with a brief show. Most are finished within a few weeks. At this point, they become dormant until next season, as they do not like the heat. They thrive in cool temperatures and are triggered to recede when the day time thermometer  is much over 75 degrees. This ritual also allows me to connect with the consciousness that is sparked into life and motion as I begin to spring-clean my house, get rid of stuff, organize closets and make room for all of the new things that accompany the season of Aries - first house of the zodiac. It represents the spark of creation and synthesis. New ideas and projects come to life after months of hibernation. Hopes and desires take on new shape as they bloom into fruition. 

After your bulbs have lived their expectancy indoors, you can transplant them to a sunny place in your garden. You will see everything start to yellow which means it is not photosynthesizing anymore. Cut the old foliage just above the neck of the bulb and plant them about 4-6 inches deep. They will have the best show the following Spring if you plant them in a group about 1/2 inch apart, or by lining them along the edge of the front of your bed. You should mark them with a tag so that you do not forget where they are and accidentally plant on top of them later. It is always exciting to see the first signs of life come up in what has been inactive for months. I think it's pretty remarkable how the dance appears to happen flawlessly and with little effort each year. It's something you can count on.