Hyacinth Splendid Cornelia
Not quite as splendid as their namesake might suggest
Photo: Chronica Domus
Well, it has been just shy of a month since I discovered my long-overdue-for-forcing hyacinth bulbs which, if you recall, had escaped my notice tucked away within brown paper bags in my basement for the better part of winter. Quickly hatching a plan to force them in water, contained in antique copper food molds, I thought I might have saved the day. With as much cosseting and coddling as a mother can provide her offspring, I was hopeful for a good show.
Alas, this year's selection of hyacinth bulbs did not quite live up to their namesake, Splendid Cornelia. It is, I believe, all my fault as I have obviously denied them adequate growing conditions to thrive. After all, as with past efforts, seen here and here, I've always started the forcing of my hyacinths closer to the calendar New Year than the Lunar New Year.
I'll admit, the photograph I've included in this post does look somewhat pretty at first glance, and I am grateful that at least a few of the bulbs have bloomed for my enjoyment, releasing their heavenly fragrance to sweeten the air in the kitchen. Clearly, they have not thrived and have obviously had a falling out and some cross words with each other, much like a couple of petulant children. Why else would they not be blooming in unison? In fact, I'm not quite certain what to make of it all. Firstly, the most successful of the bulbs was actually growing very well on its own in the smaller of the two food molds. As soon as I came to realize that one of the bulbs in the larger mold was not to be coaxed into action, looking a little desiccated as it was, I ditched that under-achiever into the compost receptacle and replaced it with the one from the small mold. The little mold soon got a replacement bulb; a yellow variety named City of Haarlem. Now, I wait with eager anticipation as to its fate.
As can be seen, I've had varied success with three of the four bulbs in the larger mold. Although the middle bulb towards the back does contain a flower, it has not advanced past the sword-shaped leaves. The one in the front has seemingly birthed a young 'un, which has thrust forth its own little leaflet, probably robbing the main bulb of the vital energy required to actually do its job and produce a beautiful bloom. Oh dear, what a mixed bag this has turned out to be!
There is nothing quite like a humble little garden bulb to remind one that Mother Nature makes the rules around here. No matter how much we wish to fiddle with her, in this case forcing in water, she always has the last word.
Ah well, there is always next year's foray into bulb forcing to look forward to. Now, please excuse me while I pencil in a few useful notes on my calendar - 1. Buy bulbs in the autumn, 2. Force in early January.
Mine didn't even grow shoots!! I will put the same in my calendar and will buy extra for a few loose vessels bc the arrival of spring is so much bearable with these flowers!
ReplyDeleteOK, now you are making me feel bad for complaining that my bulbs weren't quite up to scratch! Sorry to hear of your non-shooters, but as you say, buy extra for next year and see what happens when you force them.
DeleteHello CD, I would be thrilled if I planted something and it did as well as that. And they do go well in those copper molds. Since you at least got some attractive blooms, and gleaned a few tips for next time, I would definitely count this as a success.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Oh Jim, you are too generous, but thank you nonetheless! I really felt that because I had left these bulbs so late in the season to force, the final show wouldn't quite warrant a standing ovation. I shall not make the same mistake next year, and will try, try again as the saying goes.
Deleteat least you tried! This year I never got around to it and had to throw the bulbs out as they were looking rather...forlorn in their paper bag.
ReplyDeleteHello AD,
DeleteOh dear, I commiserate with your sorry tale of forgotten bulbs - been there, done that, as they say! There is always next year to look forward to and I do hope you give it another try.
I am inspired by your hyacinth blooms nevertheless. I don't have any lovely copper molds large enough for forcing the bulbs but I see that you used an ironstone tureen in the past and I do have two of those! I am noting on my calendar to obtain some bulbs this coming fall! Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHello slf,
DeleteI'm thrilled that you've been inspired to try forcing hyacinths in water. It really is quite simple if you actually remember to do so several months after your purchase (a note in a diary is certainly helpful!). I used to force individual bulbs in proper hyacinth glasses, but one year I decided to try forcing them in a tureen and I've never looked back. Any waterproof container with enough room for some pebbles will suffice, and within a few weeks, you will be rewarded with gorgeous blooms and the sweetest aroma of any spring bulb that I know.
CD,
ReplyDeleteLike your other readers, I think they look pretty good. I've never tried to force hyacinths so I think I'll put it on my calendar to try it as well. At least yours will be blooming for Easter, if you were to start them at the beginning of New Year would they last until Easter (typically)?
Karen
Hello Karen,
DeleteThank you, I'm glad you think they look good, but believe me when they all perform in unison (see my other two posts on the topic), they look far nicer.
Typically, forced hyacinths do not last very long, which is why I buy several bulbs so I can force them in succession. If you start them at the beginning of the year, they should take anywhere between three and four weeks to bloom (this attempt took just under three weeks!). Once blooming, you can expect to enjoy them for another two to three weeks, which is not a terribly long time, but truly rewarding. Oh, and their smell is divine!
Do please give it a whirl and tell me what happens.
The term 'forced bulbs' is brand new to me and quite contrary to nature's well ordered world. With your Frankenstein trees and forced bulbs, Mother Nature would probably may be sending in a squadron of locusts to discourage any further tamperings...
ReplyDeleteGSL, I fear that Mother Nature's tomfoolery has already started here in California, what with one of the most severe droughts in history to plague our hot and dry lands.
DeleteBulb forcing has been done since the mid-1700's so not a new concept at all. I would have loved to have seen some of the containers used for forcing back then.
Your molds are lovely. I've always eyed people who can force bulbs, who are that organized and disciplined, with admiration. Even if the bulbs aren't perfect:).
ReplyDeleteThank you, LPC. Obviously, my organizational skills have slipped a little this year, but there is always next to look forward to. I encourage you to give bulb forcing a try. Once you've done it, there is no turning back.
DeleteWell they certainly look the business. We have passed several stunning flower shops here in Ginza in Tokyo in the last few days, and there have been hyacinths amongst their bounty, with suitably divine scents wafting therefrom, which are welcome in the cooler than expected temperatures. Back to Bangkok tomorrow, and the vastly hotter climate.
ReplyDeleteHello Columnist,
DeleteI do hope you managed to take a few snaps of those beguiling flower shops in Ginza and possibly include those in a future posting. I'd certainly be interested in viewing them.
Have a safe trip back home!
Dear Lady Domus, I seem to have been clumsy at button-pushing; I thought I had left you a comment yesterday! I just wanted to let you know that Mother Nature would certainly approve your humble attitude and grant you the sort of flowering you wish next year. She has to keep us in line, you know. I have noticed with my beau-parents (excellent planners and gardeners) how much organization is the key to gardening. I do not put this observation into practice myself but it is admirable to see what others can do!
ReplyDeleteDearest gésbi,
DeleteHow right you are about Mother Nature keeping us all in check. My outdoor bulbs have performed much better this year, regardless of an army of snails that have feasted upon them!
Your parents must keep a beautiful garden, and as you note, much organization (and hard work) is involved if one is to reap the benefits of a bounteous landscape. And, talking of which, I'd better get on and plant some seeds soon!
3. buy less but better quality bulbs.
ReplyDeleteThis is one I have to keep remind myself when I look at those big bags at Costco and compare the prices with reputable garden centers.
I've been looking forward to this post primarily to see how they looked in the copper pots. As far as I'm concerned, that was a success! now i have to add that to my list of must dos next year. I'm forever grateful, CD!
Excellent point Lindaraxa! Although I did purchase my hyacinths at a reputable local nursery (I must do a post on that one of these days), I simply allowed them to languish in their little paper bags entirely too long.
DeleteAll that aside, I am thrilled to have inspired you to try forcing hyacinths in your own molds. You'll enjoy the benefits of having an indoor diminutive garden in the midst of your real garden being submerged in sub-zero temperatures, and how sweet is that!
Well, despite them being a little small in stature, they still look wonderful. I did a similar thing with my tulips last year, and forgot about them in the crisper - it was a very brief display when I eventually managed to plant them out… unfortunately it really was too warm when they got going!
ReplyDeleteStill think the little pots you put them in are adorable though.
Thank you Heidi. This certainly has been an exercise in forethought and planning, but as they say "the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray". Thankfully, I planned my outdoor tulip planting with a little more success and I'm now enjoying those. Can you buy pre-cooled tulip bulbs in your area or do you have to chill them in the refrigerator (I too have done this in the past)?
DeleteI was wondering two things:
ReplyDelete- Did you chill your hyacinth bulbs before planting?
- Are your copper containers lined? Copper can be very toxic to plants, particularly root development.
Alas, I am no expert at this, I've tried to force hyacinths indoors countless times with dismal results. Just too warm here, even in the far corners of our basement....
Hello rosekraft,
DeleteThank you for your comment and interesting questions.
I do not chill my hyacinth bulbs and never have. I buy them at a local nursery so perhaps they come pre-chilled. The only bulbs I've had to chill are tulip bulbs, and then only if I purchase them from my favorite supplier on the east coast, where gardeners there enjoy the benefits of a far colder winter than here in California.
The copper molds I used this year are lined in tin, but as an extra precaution to the toxic side-effect of copper, I lined both containers in plastic before adding the stones, water, and bulbs.
Do you force your bulbs in a dark basement for the duration of their growth, or do they have access to sunlight, which they certainly need after the initial week in the dark?
Those pictures look like things weren't that bad, esp as they were last minute rescues. Quite jolly really.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lord Cowell. I do love the word "jolly".
Delete