Garden tip: force bulbs

You'll find lots of forced paperwhites on sale at nurseries and florists now. But the flowers--a kind of daffodil--also come in cheery yellow. One paperwhite to try is 'Grand Soleil d'Or', shown here. You just have to force the bulbs yourself.

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Fill a decorative bowl one-half to two-thirds full of pebbles. Place bulbs on top, shoulder to shoulder, tips up. Add more pebbles until only 1/2 inch of each bulb is exposed. Add water to just below the base of the bulbs (check the level occasionally). Place the bowl in a cool, dark spot until growth emerges, then move the bowl to a sunny spot. From planting to flowering takes three to five weeks. A good source is Brent and Becky's Bulbs (www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com or 877/661-2852).

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