Hyacinth

Normally, I would not write a review of a blooming plant like this hyacinth until it actually BLOOMED.  I mean, the FLOWERING is the whole point of it, right?

I got mine!  You better hurry, these beauties won't be at Trader Joe's very long...

But the thing is, Trader Joe’s is only going to have these for a limited time, and you need to get one.  So, I decided to go ahead and run this review now, while my hyacinth is still pre-bloom, to give you time to rush out to your local TJ’s and pick one up!

The tag shows us how pretty this bulb will be when the flowers bloom

Here’s the deal – they are CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP.  Seriously, you get the bulb and the sweet little glass vase for only $2.99.  That is cheaper than a coffee at Starbucks (or Caribou Coffee if you are boycotting Starbucks right now…).  And when this baby blooms it is going to be loooovely and the smell will be DIVINE!  (Bonus, when you are done with this year’s bloom, you can plant the bulb in your yard!  And you can re-purpose the vase or put another bulb in it and start all over!)

See?  Sweet little glass vase.  You need one.  So does your neighbor.  Hurry up!  Go now.

Please, put down what you are doing right now and just run out to Trader Joe’s.  Get yourself one, and hey, be kind and buy a couple for your neighbors!  Just put them on their front porch so when they get home from work they are delighted, surprised, and confused, as in, “Oh my!  A beautiful hyacinth almost ready to bloom!  How delightful!  And what a surprise!  This wasn’t here when I left for work this morning…  But, color me confused.  I mean, WHO PUT IT HERE??”.  Go for it! 

  

Price:  a crazy cheap $2.99 

Rating:  5

P.S. - if you DO get one for your neighbor, please comment here and tell me!  I would love to see a bunch of people get surprised by hyacinth!  :) 

Tulip Bulbs in Glass Vase

IT IS SPRING!!!

Of course, this is easy to declare on a day like today:  I have the day off work, the sun is shining, and it is a glorious day.

Ask me again in a couple of days when it is cold and rainy and I might not have such a positive outlook.

In any event, for now anyway, IT IS SPRING.  And Spring means BLOOMS – trees, tulips, crocus…  Spring is LOVELY!!! 

LOOK - flowers are starting to pop up in our yard!!

The other night we were in line at TJ’s and a lady in the line next to us had 2 glass vases that I had never seen at the store before.  I asked her about them and she was happy to explain – they were glass vases with tulip bulbs in them!!!  You keep water in the bottom of the vase, leave it in the sun, and before you know it VOILA – YOU HAVE TULIPS!!!   She said she gives them to her grandmothers every year.  Can we get a collective “Awwwwww” for that??  I mean, is that not a PERFECT grandma gift??  She said her grandmothers are thrifty, too, and they always use the glass vases for something else when the tulips are done.  I have to think that the grandmas also take the bulbs and plant them outside somewhere, too.

Tulip Bulbs in a glass vase

So I sort of wanted to grab one that night, but we were already in line.  And they were $8.99, which seems sort of expensive…  Plus, my grocery store date didn’t say, “Susan, you NEED that!  Let me go grab one for you!!”.  So, I didn’t get one.

But I kept thinking about it.  So today when we went back to TJ’s I grabbed one!!  I went for PINK.  I think I would have preferred the PURPLE actually, but the pink ones were less developed, meaning I will get to watch them bloom more!  I can’t wait to see the flowers pop out.

Look - I got one!!!

So yes, $8.99 does seem a wee bit pricy for 4 tulip bulbs in a glass vase.  But they are imported from HOLLAND, so they must be fancy.  :)  And do you know what?  I am worth it – and so are YOU!  And we make like grandmas and use the glass vases for something else after the tulips die, right? 

Looky looky - 2 pink tulips are already starting to make their appearance...   

I recommend you go to Trader Joe’s stat and pick one up.  I am most certain they will not have these Spring time beauties for very long.  Splurge a bit on yourself.  And while you are there, get one for your mom.  And your grandma.  They aren’t going to be around forever, you know, and if you are lucky enough to still have them in your life, SPOIL ‘EM. 

Here are a couple of other signs of SPRING at the Big Yellow House! 

Peachy - the peach tree - is getting buds!

Mr. and Mrs. Dove are hanging out in the dogwood tree almost
all the time now!  Can eggs be far behind??

And the dogwood will be in bloom soon, too!!

Price - $8.99

Rating – 4.75