Anticipating the holidays is fun, as any kid can tell you. Anticipating holiday floral gifts and decorations is smart, as any hostess knows. Now is the time to plan and plant flower bulbs for the holidays for both gifts and decorations. An expensive bowl or pot is not essential, some of the best are flea market finds.
Most people like to receive bulbs at the planting stage.
Watching bulbs grow is half the fun. For those who prefer instant gratification, present the gift as it blooms. Some bulbs, such as amaryllis and paperwhites, can readily be brought into flower in time for the winter holidays if you start about five or six weeks in advance. Even some tulips, such as 'Brilliant Star', 'Christmas Marvel' and 'Flair' can be brought to flower in December, though tulips require pre-cooling and are among the trickier bulbs to force successfully. Even easier are hyacinths, which can be bought partially pre-cooled and thus more quickly brought to flower.