3/8/09

Bulbs in a Jar - a Gift of Friendship!

Every fall I buy a few bags of bulbs from Costco (using their coupon), and plant them in my front and back yards.

This year I had extras that I did not have time to plant! So the bags sat in my garage through the winter, where it was dark and cold.

Don’t let bulbs go to waste
Every time I walked into our garage I saw those bulbs staring at me. And I started feeling guilty, like they were going to go bad if I didn’t get them in the ground, and soon.


We’ve all seen bulb jars – they’ve been around forever. But I’ve never made one myself! What a perfect idea, as we're wrapping up the winter season.

And why not make one to give away?

One for me, one for Hoppi
Some new readers may not be familiar with my friend Hoppi, and the Thursday Night Dinners that she provided for our family for over a year! To make life easier on our family, she graciously agreed to cook dinner and bring it to our family every Thursday night! You can read more about it, here.


So out to the yard I went to gather rocks to start the process of making my bulb jars.


One for me, and one for Hoppi.


Growing bulbs indoors
• Find a vase or two (garage sale finds!)
• Gather rocks, place at bottom of vase
• Place bulbs on top of rocks (roots sinking down)
• Add a small amount of water, not letting the bulbs touch the water
• Put in cool, dark cupboard (my coat closet!)
• When the bulb starts to shoot, move into more warmth and light


Even though Hoppi is not as much a part of our lives these days, we are still so grateful for the gift of hospitality that she exhibited to our family. Each one of us still talk about it. It’s etched in our minds.

I bet our kids will tell their kids about it!


So as I take this small gift to her house this week, I hope she will be reminded of the gift that she bestowed on our family – and in return these beauty-producing flower stems that will be shooting up any day.

Flowers really are a sign of friendship, aren’t they
?

(Meatloaf birthday cake: Hoppi always had a way of making my kids' birthdays extra special!)

Keep Hospitality Simple - is what I wrote about today on Divine Caroline. Check it out!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a terrific idea, Sandy! And a great way to remember someone so special. :o)

Jessica said...

I'm so glad you posted this!!

When we moved into our current house tulips and daffodils came up in the spring, but they were planted in clumps. Last summer I dug them all up...and forgot to plant them in the fall.

Now I can get them out of the shed and start in on a Spring project. Hopefully they'll bloom. Thanks!! again!!!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Wow...what a wonderful gift of friendship. You know I have dabbled in quite a few things like herb gardens...ponds etc but never ever have planted a "bulb" in the ground...I just realized that.


Sat in the office with James Dobson? Wow....what an amazing "time" that must of been.
Sandy toe

Anonymous said...

I love bulbs! I have some on the piano right now!
~Kim

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Make sure you post again when they start blooming. What a great idea to share with a friend. :)
And yes, I had some staring at me as well. UGH!

Kim said...

This puts a new twist on the "jar gifts" (soup, cookie mixes, etc.). I'm going to have to try it!!

Amy said...

Sandy,

I have lurked on your blog for the past few months. When I started to read I felt as though you had tapped on my shoulder and reminded me of something that has been missing in my life and my families lives the past few years. That is giving the gift of hospitality. We have so many little ones that I gave up on the idea several years ago because it just stressed me out so much. But after reading so many of your great posts I am getting it that it's not about what I get out of it, but what I can do for others. How selfish I have been for only thinking of myself!! I have been trying harder to extend myself and hospitality and I am feeling good about the results. Thanks so much for all your posts.

jesse said...

What a great gift idea! I would so love to receive this as a present on any occasion... brilliant!

Our Complete Family said...

What a sweet thing Hoppi did for your family and what a sweet thing you are taking over to her home this week! She will love it!
I love the photos with this post~ they are great!

Jen said...

Very sweet of you. I took tulip bulbs to a friend the other day as well...great minds think alike.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

I love that, Sandy! I did for the first time during Christmas, the paperwhite bulbs & it was so fun watching them come up. Maybe I should try tulips inside too.

I'm having a giveaway today, a fun pillow!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

That was such a thoughtful gift idea! They looked beautiful too!

karen said...

What a wonderful idea! I'm always on the lookout for a project to do with the kids, and I've been trying to incorporate Random Acts of Kindness. (I want my children to witness how awesome it is to help others.)

We're totally going to do this. I'm going to let my children choose the recipient...I wonder who they'll choose?!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this idea. I had my neighbors over Saturday night for my husband's 40th birthday party. They noticed the seedlings that I have growing in my house. They are seedlings of herbs that I am going to give out to my neighbors this year for Easter. I want a chance to tell them that Christ rose again. I will be able to put the true Easter story on the pots as I deliver them. It can be a reminder to them everytime they need an herb for cooking. -Or their kids will enjoy smelling the plants.

Thanks for your advice! I was able to host 2 parties for my husband's 40th b-day for over 80 people in our home this week without losing my mind! Thanks for reminding us to open our homes and our hearts!

~Amanda

LuLu said...

You just make me smile. you make me want to be a better person. You think of the most thughtful things. ... bulbs in a jar... gosh I just love it.
thank you,
LuLu

Melanie said...

Beautiful gift idea!
My boys would love that meatloaf "cake."
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Maureen said...

Lesson learned here... I threw away the bag of bulbs that never made it into the ground. Thanks for posting about yours, and also for sharing the story about Thursday dinners. What a gift.

Elizabeth M Thompson said...

Okay, my ignorance is about to show...once the bulbs sprout and bloom and then fade, can the bulbs be re-used next year--maybe even planted?

Thanks for sharing this great idea. I have some bulbs that didn't make it into the soil this year and am happy to have a way to share them.

RefreshMom said...

What a great idea. I think flowers from bulbs are some of the prettiest flowers that bloom. I've been enjoying our daffodils these past couple of weeks.

You've always been a model of the Proverbs 31 woman to me. I'd like to invite you to join a new Proverbs 31 event (and have a chance to win Donna Partow's new book on the topic--for yourself or a friend). Please drop by RefreshMoments to check it out.

Biteofpunkinpie said...

I am a gardening novice. What kind of bulbs do you recommend?

Ms. Tee said...

This is a great idea - I'm definitely filing this one away. :) THank you for sharing how you did it!