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Thursday, December 4, 2008

Oh, the stink

The scent of paperwhites is definitely up the nose of the beholder. My Narcissus tazetta 'Zivas' are blooming beautifully in the kitchen but oh, the stink. My husband does not consider this a stink. It's a fragrance, and he likes it. But that first blast when you come home from work is a shocker. Whew! Is it ... burnt wires? Musk? Where's the litter box? But there's a reason Zivas are so popular. They sprout in no time. About a month, in my case, and once they start, they shoot up quickly. (This means you can pot some up and be assured of a great Christmas gift -- there's still time!) They're a classic, pure white. They're soo easy. You don't even need to "plant" them, at least not in the traditional way. Stick 'em in a shallow pot with potting soil or pebbles; just make sure the roots are covered and kept moist. And look how pretty. Worth toughing it out, I'd say, even if you have to hold your nose.   
Posted by Virginia Smith @ 11:15 AM  Permalink | Post a comment
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About Virginia A. Smith
Ginny Smith, a Philadelphia native, worked as a reporter at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Ohio – with six short months at the end of the Bulletin tossed in – before returning to Philadelphia in 1985 to join the Inquirer. Her favorite beats here have included Center City, roving around Pennsylvania (and getting paid for it!) and alternative medicine. She’s also been City Editor and Pennsylvania Editor. Ginny has been happily writing – and learning - about gardening fulltime since 2006. She’s won two silver medals of achievement from the national Garden Writers Association and in 2011, Bartram’s Garden honored her with its Green Exemplar award for her stories about “the region’s deeply rooted horticultural history, cultural attractions and bountiful gardens.”
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