Narcissus Tazetta AKA Paperwhites

As you know, I have been forcing bulbs this year. My Amaryllis is dead and gone. It lasted just long enough to make our Christmas table pretty. I now have these beautiful white flowers to start the new year.

Paperwhite narcissus bulbs appear in U.S. nurseries as early as October, and can provide a fragrant reminder of spring as early as Thanksgiving. This delicate member of the jonquil/daffodil family is ideal for one-time indoor growth, commonly called "forcing." Bulbs planted in an every-two-week sequence can provide floral beauty inside through the long, harsh winter weather.

Narcissus tazetta, are native to Mediterranean countries. They resemble other members of the daffodil family in shape and color, but they cannot tolerate temperatures below 35°F. Scholars say descriptions of narcissus can be found in the writings of Homer and note that the Greeks were generally suspicious of their strong fragrance. Today, Israel is one of several major sources of paperwhite bulbs imported to the U.S.; narcissus are cultivated on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Cultivation has made both white and yellow varieties available for indoor forcing and outdoor warm-climate growth.

Read more: About Paperwhites | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/69269-paperwhites.html#ixzz1idLjTPXb

I personally am not fond of their fragrance so far. Its a baby powder-ish smell. I'm not fond of babies. lol They are very pretty though. It is nice having flowers even though the weather outside is cold and void of beautiful plant life.