Forced Bulbs May Be Perfect Valentine Gift
Last weekend, my son Bill and his wife Jackie were home for a visit. I had been contemplating this column for Valentine’s Day, and thought I would seek the perspective of a young, married man. I asked Bill if he might type up a few notes regarding what Valentine’s Day means to him. Apparently he had been considering this, because he immediately began hammering out an edict.
“Valentine’s Day? What I want to know is who in the world this Valentine character is and why did he create this nightmare for men. Talk about pressure. Get her candy, but what about her diet? OK, don’t get her candy, but now you’re implying she shouldn’t be eating candy.
Make sure you get her a card. But which one? Get the big, flowery one. No, that’s too gaudy. How about that cute, little one that says exactly what you wish you could say. Fifty cents. What a cheapskate.
What about flowers? You can’t go wrong with flowers. Every woman loves the sweet aroma of a flower in February.
This is where the true frustration begins. You’ve got red ones, blue ones, yellow ones, long-stem, shortstem, potted, cut, bushels, baskets, dozens and singles…
And the roses? You’ve got red roses for love, pink roses for those not quite in love, yellow roses for Texans, white roses to make up after a fight. You’ve got carnations for those who can’t afford roses and ferns for those who don’t want flowers at all.
Oh, and you can’t forget all that baby’s breath that accompanies one stem or a dozen stems. Baby’s breath is the team player of all flowers. It knows its role. It doesn’t score touchdowns. It’s in the trenches fighting it out with the stems and the thorns, doing its job as garnish for the main dish. We can’t forget the baby’s breath. And then there’s…” Whoooa, Bill. I’ll take it from here. You’re making it too difficult. We gals appreciate anything when it comes from the heart. Knowing how Jackie loves tulips, I’ll bet a gift of potted tulips would satisfy her perfectly. Not only would they fill the house with spring charm, but once they’re finished blooming, they can be planted outside for years of enjoyment. You can’t beat that. If you do get her a pot of spring flowering bulbs, I have a few suggestions you might include in the package.
Keep these cheery plants in as much light as possible during the day (but always in a place where you both can enjoy them) and tuck them into a cool room for the night-time hours. The cool room will help keep the flowers longer.
Once the flowers have stopped blooming, cut the flower heads off and leave the green leaves. Set the pots in a cool room with bright light until the leaves turn yellow. When the ground thaws, plant them outside. If the leaves are still green when the temperatures turn mild, go ahead and plant them, with the leaves still attached.
Natural sunlight is much better for photosynthesis than the small amount of light they may receive indoors. Make sure you add bulb food to the soil before planting. Forced bulbs are going to need the extra food to help form flower growth for next season. Some forced bulbs never produce flowers again, while other do just fine. To be on the safe side, plant these bulbs in an out-ofthe-way location. Don’t count on them for the showy spots in the garden.
Bill, I’ll assure you most women would give up their diets for a day, accept any form of a card, and delight over anything that comes in a pot, vase or wrapped in tissue with lots of baby’s breath. Trust me, ‘cause I’m the mom. Happy Valentine’s Day.
On another note: Sunday, the WSU Master Gardeners will kick off the new year of Manito conservatory and greenhouse tours with a Valentine tour. The conservatory is filled with spring glory. You won’t want to miss this event. The tour is free. Meet at the conservatory at 2 p.m.
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review