Carved Chinese Sacred Lily Bulb
One of the customs for Chinese New Year is to have a pot of blooming äóìsui sin fahäó (translated in English, water fairy) or as we know it, narcissus in the home. If the plant flowers on Chinese New Year, it is an omen that the rest of the year will bring good fortune. Narcissus bulbs when placed in water or soil typically grow with erect leaves and spikes of flowers, but there are other imaginative growth forms. Bulb carving is an ancient art form originating from the Fujian province in China. After years of training and with surgical-like skills, the advanced student can dissect and scab a narcissus bulb until it resembles multiple cloves of garlic forcing the foliage to curl as they grow and flower, giving the plant its convoluted and twisted character. Some are even shaped to look like snails and roosters. Known as the crab-claw method of carving, it is commonly practiced on Narcissus tazzeta var. orientalis (Chinese Sacred Lily).
To view more amazing carved narcissus, visit www.fdflower-nl.com/products/chinese-narcissus and enjoy. Gong Hay Fat Choy! (Happy New Year)