The race began in the fall of 2009 with a bulb sale where parents were offered the opportunity to purchase a classroom package that includes daffodils for the students to plant in the fall and amaryllis bulbs for the January race. The bulb sale did not raise much money but we ended up with enough bulbs for all of the classes that wanted to participate and extras to invite some of our community partners to participate.  We bought the bulbs in bulk (and provided our own pots and soil) for about $4 each from Touch of Nature.

Volunteers prepare a kit consisting of:

• one amaryllis bulb

• pot that is 6 inches across the top and 8 inches deep filled to the top with potting soil

• lid to a plastic salad container to sit under the pot to catch water

• bamboo plant stake 24 inches tall

• lesson worksheet for class to record growth

• laminated poster board with x- and y- axis and pot cut out for tracking growth

At the conclusion of the race, we collect the bulbs.  The flower stalk is cut down, but the leaves are left on the plant to keep feeding the bulb.  After the danger of frost is past, the bulbs are planted in a garden bed for the bulb to grow in size and to create next year's plant inside the bulb.  The bulbs are dug in October and stored between layers of paper in containers that are stored in a dark, dry location.  We lay the bulbs out in November to check their health in preparation for the start of the race in January.