the onion

We had an onion start to sprout in the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator.   We decided to plant it to see if it would grow.   How do you like the idea of using an empty 2-liter soda pop bottle for a planter?   Just cut a large hole in the side and then mount it to whatever you want with a couple of screws.   And don't forget to put some holes in the downside of the  soda pop planter to allow for drainage.   Much to our surprise the onion started to grow so I got a picture of it.   Now it was just a matter of waiting to see what would happen.   And it started growing straight up (geotropism?).   Over a period of about a week it had an amazing growth.

Most of the leaves became bent over but two stalks were doing just fine.   Just look at the funny shape on the top of the stalk.

The shapes reminds me of the colorful "onion domes" of St. Basils cathedral in Moscow's Red Square.   Such a beautiful splash of color.   And I can see why they are referred to as "onion domes".

But it seemed that all this rapid growth was taking it's energy from the onion itself as it began to shrivel up.

The odd shape thing on the tip of the stem began to form a more bulbous shape.   And through the skin there appeared to be little bumps.   This was becoming quite an adventure because I was baffled.   It was so strange looking.   What were those bumps?

After a couple days the membrane split open to reveal some funny looking things.

After a few more days those funny little things proved to be flower buds.   You can see one of the flowers breaking out of it's petal enclosure.  

I did a search on the internet about onions and found this picture of what mine should look like after it has fully blossomed.   I have spent my entire life eating onions but this was the first time that I had ever seen an onion flower.   I am still fascinated by it.

Those little black things on the onion flower are onion seeds.  

I hope that I get a handful like this individual did.

Stay tuned and I will let you know what happens with the seeds.   It seems that life is a learning process and I seem to keep learning new things.   Life is just amazing, and precious also.   Have a great day wherever you may be and please share with me in the comments section of any of your personal experiences.   Lew