Her Treasure

On Friday, a woman came into the store with an item in bubble wrap.  As she carefully unwound the layers of plastic, I could see a beautiful blue and white bowl.  She told me that it was fine china, made in China, called Delftware.  (I didn't know what she said, until she wrote it down).  It reminded me a bit of Wedgewood china from England.  To my delight, I saw her take off a cover.  The cover had five holes and the purpose of the bowl was for bulbs!  She told me that in England she saw crocuses blooming in pea gravel, and asked me if I would plant bulbs in the bowl using gravel as the medium.  I told her that I would see what I could do.  She mentioned how much she enjoyed the hyacinth since it had such a pretty smell.   I was able to place 2 crocus, 2 daffodil and 1 hyacinth.  The hyacinth was the focal point.  It was also a bit big to get through the hole so a leaf or two was bruised. The 5 plants had to be placed exactly so that they would come through the holes. When she came to the store the next day, I was busy with a customer.  Later she told me that she "had peeked."  She had gone to the back of the store where the bowl was waiting.  However she was so pleased.  I taped the cover to the bowl, wrapped it in a sleeve to protect the shoots from the cold and gently nestled the bowl in a box with light blue tissue paper.  I held the door for her as she carried her treasure to the car.