End of February (27th) started - 1st up a daffodil, Winter Waltz (w/ last of 4 paperwhites groups forced on marbles in water) -



Winter Waltz


General Kolher (heirloom double hyacinth) very fragrant


Orange Comet (shorter one) and Red Devon


X-mas Orange and Suncatcher Suncatcher


Spellbinder (this one evolves a lot as it matures)


Taking on white highlights difference twix 1st yellow then white and yellow


Red Devon rim really going towards the red-orange


Spellbinder and Suncatcher duo

Here's where the cultivars spent their cold, dark periods -

Refrigerator dedicated to over winter forcing projects -


Covered stairwell from outside to basement...blankets and rugs thrown over totes. This location is actually the easier one. The potted bulbs in lid covered totes maintain their own just right humidity for their whole length of stay; the refrigerator pots needs monitored and often watered.

As they near the time to move them out of their cold periods, they are moved to a fluorescent bank of lights in the cool basement, this helps them stand tall (sometimes) and for bud development, at bloom time, moved upstairs to enjoy.

Fantastic @jmorth! What a wonderful way to get to see spring blooms early. You've got this method down to a science!

Thanks Annette, and thanks for the acorn!
More forcers coming soon.

You're welcome j, your blooms are beautiful!

Recent additions -

Pipit -


Sabatini -

Group Photo from 3-3-16

Thank you so much for sharing. I appreciate your efforts and letting us see the results.

My pleasure.

Sabatini - shows the white halo that developed w/ age.

J what do you do with your bulbs after you force and the foliage has died down etc? I have daffs, muscari, and hyacinths. I think I'll just toss the tulips. Doesn't forcing take the oomph out of them and they wouldn't bloom the next year if I planted in the ground?

Daffodils - most years I leave them in their pots; after bloom, and let sunshine from a basement window shine on them till they expire; then, taken to garage where I may, or maynot extract them and put in meshed bags till fall, then, into the garden. Success rate is very high. Sometimes I don't have/take time to re-p[ant, those are discarded. However, there's some out there right now (forced last year) , both potted and de-potted that are w/ green shoots, not sure of their fate yet.
(Missed last fall - 1st pic; put in used medium - 2nd pic; 3rd pic - still in last year's pot.)

last fall, awaiting outside placement.

Muscari - oft extracted, stored, and planted into garden. I haven't been forcing these lately. Sucess rate for garden bound ones is pretty good.

Hyacinths - same, good success rate, may take a couple years to bloom outside after forced (especially those forced in water on marbles).

Time ran out to get into ground last fall.

Tulips - discarded, the bulb usually splits into 4 very small bulblets.
Pic of bulb that was a discarded bulb, subsequently covered up w/ yard waste that bloomed the following year and the year following that. I think they were of the cultivar 'Mickey Mouse'.

Thank you so much! I will probably plant everything except the hyacinth, I don't have a spot for them right now and may order more in the fall. Your experience is much appreciated. Looking forward to more photos of your blooms!

Menelik - heirloom from 1911, considered rare by Old House Gardens
capable of deep indigo purple shades to black
Named after the last Ethiopian Emperor said to be descended from the union of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon in biblical / ancient times. Menelik II died before WW I. He was highly regarded by his subjects and world leaders.

Gipsy Queen - very fragrant

Pipit


Surfside

A super collection of forced bulbs, a lot of work, but of course a lot of joy as well. Thanks for sharing, they all look very happy!!!

I really love 'Gipsy Queen' for it's wonderful warm apricot color. My own aren't very healthy as they are in a bed where I have some health issues with hyacinths, but if they die out I'll replace them. They are a must for me and it really is a very special color, especially for a spring bulb.

Thanks William, there's probably more than dozen left, over 6 on the basement table waiting for the bud, 6 in the basement refrigerator. Those in the refrig from a 2nd buy in mid Dec. from Brent and Becky's half price end of season sale.

Jack your General Kohler is it the bluest hyacinth that you have grown? I'm thinking about red and white hyacinth for my husband's football team and Gipsy Queen and a blue hyacinth for my team. I wonder how Deflt Blue compares to General Kohler.
Suggestions are welcome!

I think Deft Blue has a more purplish tint. Gen. Kohler is more sky blue and, in my estimation, as blue as blue can get.
There are a lot of 'blue' hyacinthus available out there, Blue Jacket, Chicago, Crystal Palace, Peter Stuyvesant...

Odysseus is similar to Gipsy Queen in color though darker.