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Sunday 31 January 2016

Wisdom in a Bulb

Four years ago, my friend gave me a bulb vase and a hyacinth bulb for Christmas. I had never grown a bulb this way and was anxious to begin. It was a wonder. All one has to do is add water and place the filled vase in daylight. Within an hour of the water kissing the bottom of the bulb, the roots began to grow. Over the next two to three weeks, the roots proliferate, the greenery emerges and the flower buds develop then bloom. Sat on the window sill in winter, the vase and its contents are a curiosity to visitors and a welcome distraction to the winter scene outside. We love it.



This little bulb is a reminder that we only need the bare essentials in order to flourish. If our basic material needs are met, the only other essential is love. It is the water and light to our essence, allowing us to send down roots, reach for the sky and bloom.

It is also a reminder of the potential in each of us. The bulb itself did not look very impressive; one could have thought it worthless and discarded it. Its appearance masked the potential waiting to be nurtured, just like the promise that dwells in each of us.



The colour of the flower is always a surprise for us. We've had various colours, all equally lovely. They are all an expression of their beautiful hyacinth selves, none better than the other, each precious in its own right. They are another reminder to their human viewers that each of us is a unique expression of the same humanity, regardless of colour, creed or anything else.

There is much to be learned from a little bulb.


19 comments:

DJan said...

What a lovely flower, and thoughtful post. As you say, there is much to be learned from an unremarkable looking bulb. :-)

Shammickite said...

Funny that you should post this, as just this morning when I looked out of the window to see a grey sky, I thought I really must get myself some spring flower bulbs to brighten up my day! Amazing how the bulb can survive on water alone!

Jackie said...

Beautiful flowering bulb....and priceless words to accompany it.
Thank you!

Angela said...

This is beautiful! I have done it once many years ago and was rewarded with the beauty of the flower. The fragrance too is exquisite. Your words are wonderful!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I love the beautiful strong scent of a hyacinth in bloom!

Marie Smith said...

We can learn so much from the smallest things if we but open our eyes.

Marie Smith said...

It is amazing. And the colour they add to our lives!

Marie Smith said...

The little bulb was a perfect creation!

Marie Smith said...

Thank you. The bulb was an inspiration.

Marie Smith said...

That is one of the senses I often forget.

ADRIAN said...

It's done well. When I did one of these years ago the water went all smelly and the plant died.

Anvilcloud said...

We just bought our first hyacinth of the season and are waiting for it to open.

Meanwhile, you had some great lessons about life here.

Cathy said...

I did this several times when we lived in England - it seems to be a northern hemisphere thing because I don't think I ever seen anyone here grow bulbs this way in all the 40 odd years I've lived in Australia. Even in the coldest parts of the country there's usually something in bloom in winter - especially our Wattle (Acacia) ees with their beautiful yellow balls of fluff.
It's true what they say, you know, about never judging a book by its cover :)

Mage said...

Just beautiful. :)

Marie Smith said...

It is pretty, isn't it?

Marie Smith said...

You never know what lies beneath. Oh, that's the name of a movie, but it is true just the same.

Marie Smith said...

Thank you. The bulb was an inspiration.

Marie Smith said...

I wonder did you put too much water up over the bulb? I think that would rot the bulb. The water must barely touch the bottom of the bulb.

Ginnie Hart said...

Every fall, Astrid plants hyacinth bulbs and leaves them out on the balcony to "do their thing" until spring when they start popping up their heads. That's one thing. But she also has a few that she grows inside, just like yours here...and THAT is a joy to behold, before our very eyes. It's a miracle every time. She also has an Amaryllis bulb inside every Christmas time and that, too, is a miracle. Yes, indeed...there's a lot of wisdom in these nuggets from Mother Earth!