My Favorite Winter Ritual

One of my favorite winter pleasures is growing hyacinths in forcing vases, which used to be called "hyacinth glasses", centuries ago....

The delicate colors and intense fragrances are extraordinary, and particularly comforting in the depths of winter. Now of course, winter on my sand dune is not really too bad. In Northern Europe, though, after months of slippery ice, snow shoveling, and drear, I learned to love these flowers....

"Hyacinth in Winter", MR, 2014

The one above bloomed white, and had an intensely sweet, tropical scent, but of course I can't resist the pinks! The pinks seem to have a spicier perfume, but maybe that's just my imagination.

"Pink Hyacinth" MR, 2014

After they are done blooming, I plant them outside, and they generally keep growing. Some people throw the bulbs away, but I like to keep them, as they've given me so much happiness and beauty.