In winter I feel an intense yearning for gardening and flowers. This year I decided to try my hand at winter bulbs. I picked up an inexpensive all-in-one planting package (e.g. bulbs, soil, the pot and instructions). The bulbs were planted in loose soil. I tucked them in a cool dark place until they sprouted, and then placed them in a coveted sunny spot. Seemed like it was taking forever for them to sprout. Then overnight they blossomed explosively. How lovely they were. I walked back and forth past my garden admiring, with some pride I must say, how the sunlight shone through the leaves and petals.
Eventually though, in the area near my plants, I noticed a scent that I found unpleasant. I wondered if a mouse had died under the table or in the wall and was decomposing. Or perhaps someone in the building had a trash can that needed cleaning.
Oh the horror when I realized that the scent arose from my paperwhites!
Next time I’ll do my online research beforehand instead of after the fact. Maybe then I would have discovered interesting facts such as about a quarter of the population cannot stand the scent of paperwhites.* Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful for their beauty. I may plant them again, but perhaps a different, less fragrant variety! 😉
More about the lovely paperwhite:
*http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/planttherapy/planttherapy-the-smell-of-paperwhites-042428
http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2009/11/20/how-to-grow-perfect-paperwhites/
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/we-like-it-wild-paperwhites.html
