A Box with a Secret Inside

"Here is a box, a musical box, wound up and ready to play. But this box can hide a secret inside. Can you guess what is in it today?"

The more eldery amongst you will recognize these as the opening lines to Camberwick Green, written by Gordon Murray and animated by Bob Bura.  It was narrated by Brian Cant who I am fairly sure narrated a large part of my childhood. I could just write about how much I loved Camberwick Green, that I have a full set of ornaments of the firebrigade (Pugh, Pugh etc.) and Mrs Honeyman.  All you need to know for the purposes of this post is though is this:

Have this running through your mind and you will be exactly where I was when I purchased this:
its a box of mints I hear you whisper anxiously to each other.  That is what it looks like indeed.  Let me just take a step back.

The other day i went to the Autumn Lecture Day held by the Lincolnshire branch of the Hardy Plant Society.  It was an excellent day with some excellent talks which was the main reason for going.  Other reasons to go included catching up with friends and the plant sales.  The plant sales at Hardy Plant Society events tend to be rather good.

Except this time I left without buying any plants, I left with a box that had once contained mints.

(slight pause for the big reveal.......)

yes, dear reader, the box of ex-mints contained:

10 tulipa sprengeri bulbs and a packet of tulipa sprengeri seeds at a seriously bargain price.  Less than a pound per bulb.  I love love love sprengeri (springy sprongy) it is a tulip of desire.  I had one bulb purchased a couple of years ago and I sprinkle the seeds about in a hope to encourage colony to develop.  Now I hopefully have a further kickstart to this colony.
I think I'm in heaven number 8.