24/366 Don't Blink

It was the week of Christmas and I found myself in Walmart picking up a few things. Poinsettias, Amaryllis and spring bulb gift packages (ones that you force in the house) greeted me as I walked into the store. They were marked WAY down, so I decided, "what the heck", I'll spend a couple of dollars and even if the Poinsettia only lasts a few days and the bulbs don't grow, having a live plant in the house and the hope that the bulbs will grow is worth the price."
I have enjoyed the Poinsettia much more than I thought I would. It's like a splash of sunshine in my kitchen when I come downstairs every morning.
Last week I decided it was time to open the prepackaged bulb kit and see what happened. Removed the cardboard top, water and wait. Within two or three days there was a green tip pushing its way through the potting mix.
The next day there were three. It was amazing and I wanted something to document the growth so I used a modeling clay project I did with the grandkids as my "measuring stick".

day 2 of seeing growth

day 3

day 4, AM

day 4 AM

day 4 PM

 Day 5 I blinked. I was consumed by the puzzle and didn't take a picture.

Day 6 I was confused. 

I was expecting yellow narcissus-was this a lily of the valley? I took the cover from under the pot and the mystery was solved-I had purchased paperwhites. I eagerly came down the stairs this morning to check on the growth. 

another bulb was coming up!

tonight the flowers are bigger and yet another bulb is sending up a shoot.

This pot of bulbs is changing, growing, maturing every single day. I can literally watch it happen overnight. If I don't pay attention, I'll miss something. The same two words have come to mind every day as I have watched this happen: "Don't Blink!"