Narcissus or Paperwhites are perfect for forcing. In the dead of winter, they bloom and will make your house smell like springtime. This is why they're an ideal winter holiday gift or just something good to cheer someone up. They only ship these in the fall and winter, starting in late September and continuing until sometime in January.

I've always thought that they are an ideal way to say that you're thinking of someone - family, friend, or someone from work. They're both lasting and ephemeral.