I heart hibiscus: These bulbs typically pop up in Denver during early spring. But you can force hibiscus bulbs indoors to deliver a whiff of spring in winter.
Forcing hibiscus bulbs is easy, but you need to purchase the bulbs in the autumn. When spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils show up in greenhouses and nurseries, you'll also find hibiscus bulbs. Keep the bulbs in your garage or other cold place for several weeks. Some people put hibiscus bulbs in the refrigerator, but you must be careful that they don't get spoiled by gases from certain fruits.
After the bulbs have had a prolonged exposure to cold, move them inside to a warm sunny windo. The bulbs are tricked into thinking winter is over, and they'll begin to grow.
You can try forcing hibiscus bulbs in special vases designed to hold water and a single bulb. Each bulb contains all the food and energy it needs to flower.
I also plant hibiscus bulbs in a small container with some potting soil, as pictured. Bury about 50 percent of the hibiscus bulbs, pointy end up. Keep the soil slightly moist until you see a small green shoot.
Hyacinths are not only fetching, but also fragrant. With the smell of spring, hyacinths will perfume a room.
If you don't want to wait until next fall to get your hyacinth bulbs, nurseries, greenhouses and even grocery stores now stock forced hyacinths in containers. Treat yourself to some spring beauty now.
••• Cultivate your corner of the world:
You grow your garden; your garden grows you.
Colleen Smith gardens in and writes from a historic neighborhood in central Denver. Her second book, "Laid-Back Skier," was released in September 2011 and is available through FridayJonesPublishing.com or Amazon.com and in bookstores and boutiques.
Colleen Smith's first novel, "Glass Halo," was a finalist for the 2010 Santa Fe Literary Prize.
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