Just as the thundering drumming of lion dances and the abundance of sweet, sticky gau are sure signs Chinese New Year is upon us, so, too are the fragrant displays of narcissus.

Gilman Hu, otherwise known as "Mr. Narcissus," presents his annual series of workshops, beginning Saturday, on the traditional Chinese practice of cultivating narcissus for displays during the holiday.

The classes, for beginning and advanced students, will cover crab-claw narcissus culture in preparation for the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrated on Jan. 29. The workshops are sponsored by the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Students will learn about the anatomy of the bulbs and preferred cutting methods. Growers use special tools to scar a crab-claw narcissus bulb; this technique causes the bulb to sprout curved leaves which curl into dramatic shapes.

Over the course of five classes, students will see how the bulbs progress.

The workshops will be followed by the academy's annual narcissus exhibition, which features both upright and crab-claw narcissus cultures. Current and former students of Hu, as well as students from other narcissus classes in Honolulu, will share the results of their work. The exhibition will also include a bonsai display by the Hawaii Bonsai Association.

For more information about the narcissus workshops or exhibition, call the Honolulu Academy of Arts at 532-8700. To register for crab-claw workshops, call the Academy Art Center at 532-8742.

NARCISSUS WORKSHOPS