Sometimes Monday ...

 ... is a day for the underperformers.

I started these amaryllis bulbs a month or so ago, and was initially excited to see the appearance of green leaf shoots. I keep watching and waiting for bud stems to appear, but there is nothing so far.

I've successfully rebloomed these bulbs several times before and treated them exactly as I did before. They spent the summer outside, I stopped watering them before frost and then placed  them in my root cellar for the winter. Once I brought them out of their hibernation, I repotted and started watering them, but here I am with no flowers. I think I'll let them continue to grow, put them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, and maybe give them some extra fertilizer when I water them. Everyone and almost every plant deserves a second chance, and I'll give these guys theirs next year. 

Sometimes Monday ...

... is a day to check in on amaryllis. 

They are all sprouted and growing. I hope your Monday is off to the same good start!

I hope to see you back here tomorrow for our second Fever discussion, this time focusing on social issues. 

Through the Years

I saved my amaryllis bulbs from last year, but haven't started any of them this year. I may do that this weekend when I'm once again in NJ, but for now, I'm taking a look back at some of the stellar floral displays from years past.

There were too many outstanding ones for me to choose between them, so you get a bunch. I've got four or five bulbs resting in my root cellar, but of course, I didn't label them, so they'll be a surprise. Now I'm anxious to get home and start them all!

The Last One

I think my amaryllis blooms have finally reached an end. This last blossom has been growing very slowly and waiting patiently in the wings since February, almost as if it wanted to do a solo show.

Maybe it felt that it couldn't compete with some of the larger, showier blooms.

But even though it's only six inches tall with small blossoms and tiny leaves, I think it's still beautiful and a fine finale.

Farewell, amaryllis, 'til next year!

Amaryllis Watch

Some of my amaryllis are done blooming, some are still slowly growing towards that stage. Here are some shots of what's currently growing and blooming at my house.

It's a grey, rainy day today, heading towards a cold and snowy week ahead, so I'm glad to have a profusion of bright blossoms. Here's hoping there are bright spots in your world, too.

Amaryllis Watch

I showed you one of my amaryllis on Monday, and today I'll share what they all look like in mid-January.

 All four flowers are blooming now, and there is a second flower stalk with a bud yet to open. 

 I'll soon have a multitude of red blossoms and the single one in front is a beautiful peachy-almost-red bulb that I'm trying to rebloom.

The gang all together, providing beauty through the depths of winter.

I'm hoping your weekend is a good one, and not nearly as cold and snowy as the weathermen here are predicting!

Amaryllis Watch

I showed you old photos of past amaryllis yesterday; today it's the current crop. It's not going to be all amaryllis all the time here, but I will admit that they make for relatively quick posts.

There are some small changes, with the intriguing preview of several visible blossom shoots. Last week I said that growing amaryllis involved Patience, and this week the word that comes to my mind is Hope.

I  hope you have a good weekend, without crowds and frustration, but with plenty of hope and celebration for the return of the light.
Happy Winter Solstice!

Amaryllis Watch

I haven't shared my amaryllis in almost a month; they were off to a slow start but now that that they've gathered their resources they've all got leaves and the very beginnings of flower stalks showing. Not particularly exciting, but they are hopeful and a reminder that all good things happen in their own good time and usually involve patience.

And So It Begins ...

Amaryllis Watch! 

I got this package on Saturday, and at first I wondered what the "Steve" sticker meant. Then I paid attention to who it was from, and forgot all about Steve. A delivery from White Flower Farm is always exciting!

They sure do know how to package plants securely.

I ordered two Happy Nymph amaryllis bulbs. I've also go another delivery coming today with one Bright Nymph amaryllis. When I ordered this combination, I thought they would look nice together. The Happy Nymph bulbs are red and white peppermint striped, and the Bright Nymph is a solid red. The more I think about it, the more I think I'll give the solid red one to my mother-in-law. It's her favorite color, and last year she received an amaryllis bulb that never got a flower stalk. She was so disappointed that she talked about it until June, so hopefully this one will brighten up her life.

These two don't look like much so far, but hopefully there will be more to look at than just sphagnum moss in a few weeks!

Daphne Does It Again

During this past week, the blossoms on Daphne's first flower stalk faded, but there were four buds waiting to burst into bloom on the second stalk. They did, and they are glorious.

Her first bunch of flowers provided me with joy and wonder every day, and these are doing the same. 

John wondered why I was taking more photos of Daphne than I ever took of our kids (not true!) but when I tried to explain that I just wanted to show her blossoms, markings, color, and beauty in the best possible light, he shook his head and walked away. I'm not bothered by this at all as I don't take criticism of my flower photos from someone who has plenty of pictures of his boring old trucks and motorcycles. 

I'm afraid this might be her last blaze of glory for this year, so I'll admit I spent lots of time trying to capture just how beautiful she really is. It's never quite possible with a photograph, but I'll always remember Daphne, the perfect amaryllis at the perfect time. Thank you, Kym, for one of the most wonderful gifts I've been given!

Amaryllis Watch

Without electricity I couldn't post last week, but since I could still charge my phone at the library, I took plenty of pictures of Daphne. So for this week's amaryllis watch you get twice the photos!

She was busy showing off her absolutely gorgeous blossoms last week,

along with her second bud and the promise of more flowers to come.

This week her first blooms are just beginning to fade the tiniest bit around the edges,

but are still so beautiful that I just can't resist taking multiple photos each day.

The bud on the second stalk is starting to open with a beguiling peek of what's to come next week.

More exquisite loveliness!

Amaryllis Watch

Daphne continues to delight.

She hasn't grown much in height, but she's slowly and gracefully beginning to unfurl the petals on one of her bud stalks, enticing me with cranberry streaked with very pale green. The second bud remains tightly closed, and I'm grateful. That means it probably won't open until after the first bud, prolonging the show.

Daphne also likes to show off her dramatic side a bit. Last night John wondered if I might be taking more photos of her than I took of our sons (no, not by a long shot). I'm afraid he might not appreciate Daphne's beauty and wonder, but I'm fairly sure you guys do. :-)