Given as favors, I would give relatively large bulbs of something less expensive rather than small lily bulbs (which the JP bulbs are going to be) for this reason: Lilies are 'fresh' bulbs and never dormant. They need immediate planting after they're received from the shipper. When your guests plant their bulbs, they are going to expect something spectacular. Unless they're gardeners familiar with lily culture they may be disappointed by a small, inexpensive bulb that is slow to perform. In the fall, hyacinths might meet your needs. For non-gardeners, they can be forced in water and tossed after they bloom. People with flower beds can incorporate their hyacinth and it will return for a number of years. Pink or blue hyacinth bulbs are colorful as well. You'll need to warn people, however, that hyacinth bulbs handled with bare hands may have a tendency to make one itch. You also get a pretty bloom from the slightly smaller (less expensive) hyacinth bulbs-- they just don't have as long a stem, which tends to fall over anyway. In my experience, hyacinths are less likely to be eaten by squirrels than crocus, unless you use Tommies if you're giving spring crocus. You might research fall crocus; they are shipped in early September. Shipping dates may be a concern, too. Gladioli in May or June would work well. I've had good results from glads from the dollar store at 4/$1, so you could use inexpensive glad bulbs and expect good results. They're easy; plant and water. Glad bulbs are colorful too if you choose dark colors. I hope you find a bulb that will meet your needs and budget and give your guests something to look forward to bloom and remind of you for years. Nell

Thanks for the suggestions folks :) I do plan on printing up a basic set of instructions. And the envelope thing isn't too rough, I can make up around 50 of them in an hour. And since we are hopefully going to keep the guest list to around 25 or so, that isn't too many jars to pack up with seeds. I want to do garden in a jar because I'm asked fairly often what I'm putting in my garden and where do I get my seed from? Thought it would be a nice way to share that with my friends. These seeds aren't going to be thrown around I hope- I hope they take them home and plant them. Most of them either already garden or are looking to get more into gardening, so I thought this would work :) Seed bombs- yep, those are playing into the wedding too. I'm making wildflower seed loaded paper bits for people to throw in the wildflower field where we are planting a tree for the unification part of the ceremony.

When our friends were married a few years ago they had a country themed wedding. It was a casual affair. They got married in a field at a bird sanctuary. The reception was held in a large barn. For favors they had on the tables 3" high terra cotta flower pots. They had decorated the outside of the pots with their names, the date of the wedding, a simple design of a vine and flower.I believe they used a paint pen. Inside the pot they put a small envelope filled with flower seeds. The poem on the outside of the envelope read; Silly ideas make happy the bride & groom so plant these seeds and think of them when the wild flowers bloom. I doubt that people will wonder what the significance of the flowers mean. I know my husband and the guests at our table didn't. It was just a cute favor that went along with the country theme. NancyLouise

You could put netting around the pot & tie it at the top with satin ribbon & make a little tag on the computer with their names & the date & maybe even a little poem. Put a hole in the tag & run the ribbon thru it. I have seen this done with seed packets inside the pot. Do the ribbons & netting in a coordinating color to the bridesmaids dresses. Did you do a search on the web for wedding favors for some ideas? Good Luck (you may want to post this on the bulb forum, they could recommend something to be planted at the time of the wedding)