When I walked into my dining room this morning I knew something was not quite right. It was only later, while having breakfast, that I noticed that the first of my Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) to flower this winter was bent over at a dangerous angle threatening to uproot the bulb and put the second bud at risk. So I cut it immediately and put it in a tall vase. Then I realised it is not only Boxing Day, but also Monday – serendipity! I have a vase to share with you after all!
‘Lemon Star’
A neighbour gave me this bunch of red Amaryllis which are also lovely and cheerful on my windowsill.
Do take a look at some of the other festive vases posted for Cathy’s meme on Rambling in the Garden.
🙂
Lovely, Cathy, I’m a bit sad that my Amaryllis is showing no sign of growing let alone producing a flowering stem, perhaps it needs to be in a warmer place.
They are so temperamental – that’s why I always plant several to be on the safe side. From six bulbs only one has flowered so far, and two have buds, but the others are still dormant. I usually only move them to a warm spot and start watering sparingly when they have started to sprout, but maybe it’s worth a try.
Beautiful! And so nice and cheerful for Christmas! I also get a few Hippeastrum bulbs to force after the holidays, when I have more time to enjoy them.
I love the splash of colour at Christmas, but hope to have some more early next year too. 🙂
Happy Boxing Day! I was gifted THREE amaryllis, so I look forward to seeing what comes of them, one is white and blooming, but the rest are mysteries, including the wax-wrapped one that has only grown a few inches. At that rate, it may bloom by Easter – ha!
Mysteries are nice – I have two mystery ones this year too as they were packaged as ‘red’ and ‘white’! LOL!
Serendipity indeed! It’s disorienting when Christmas falls on a Sunday somehow. I’m so happy you managed such a lovely vase.
I had been hesitating in cutting that Amaryllis, so perhaps it was just giving me the nudge I needed! 😉
It was ready to jump and you rescued it. Delightful.
You certainly have a way to handle the Amaryllis, Cathy. They look great! 🙂
Thanks Dina!
Your ‘Lemon Star’ is such a beauty. And what a nice neighborly gift the red amaryllis are.
I grew Lemon Star last year too. Can’t wait for the others to start sprouting and flowering!
Lemon Star does have a distinct yellow star in its centre but I almost overlooked it at first! Very pretty, and hopefully you will have a second one too in a little while. I received none at Christmas so I shall be looking for some more in the sales!
I might rescue a few leftover ones at my supermarket if they are marked down. I feel so sorry for them when they actually start opening under the artificial lighting among the fruit and veg!
Likewise here with the weather but that is the time the witch hazels flower here, although mine have been a little earlier last year and this
Yes, sad and unloved 😦 ps I looked yesterday at Aldi and there is no reduction yet…
That bloom was practically begging for a staring role in your vase! It’s very pretty and makes a nice pairing with the gift from your neighbor. There are still no signs of bloom stalks on the Hippeastrum here.
It is holding up very well in the vase too, so maybe I should be more courageous in future and cut them before they flop!
What the well-dressed windowsill wears for the holidays…Enjoy!
Thanks Ricki!
They fit together and remind me on “Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot” from the tale.
Yes, red and white go well together. :
So lovely, and how perfect to have blooms in both red and white 🙂 My potted amaryllis is a little late, but this year I intend to take courage and cut a stem… I think! Do you have any instructions? I am lucky to be able to grow them in the garden also: they make a wonderful replacement for border tulips, which I can’t grow without prechilling. But my garden amaryllis are still very far from blooming!
I have only cut Amaryllis flowers in emergencies so far, but will be more diligent in future as they do last well in a vase. Putting a wide elastic band or tightly tied broad ribbon around the stem before putting it in water helps prevent it from splitting so it should last better. 🙂
You are an absolute genius with amaryllis and always seem to pick the perfect variety.
Thanks Christine – this one was a favourite last year and I managed to find it again this year too. Have never had much luck with getting them to reflower the following winter.
The Lemon Star is gorgeous! it is a light filled beauty! Thank you for sharing Cathy.
It’s lovely isn’t it! Thanks Deb. Hope you’re enjoying the holiday season!
YOur amaryllis are beautiful. I’ve never had the patience to grow them. Happy New Year.
Thank you John. And a Happy New Year to you and your wife too! 🙂
Absolutely lovely blooms.
Thanks Karen. Happy New Year!
A star that has fallen into your vase, how beautiful! Love that xmassy window decoration too, Cathy. We had a rescued wolfhound in Ireland for a while, big softies. Bet the little one helped you through the hard times when you lost your wolf. You get so attached to them. Mine is snoring in front of the stove, good place to be. Guten Rutsch & alles Liebe für 2017. Looking forward to ‘following’ your beautiful blog 🙂
Thanks Annette. Yes, our little dog has been a great comfort and is enjoying being number one doggie now! 😉 Wolfhounds are so special, but then I suppose each pet is in its own way. Wishing you a wonderful New Year too Annette, and am looking forward to hearing about the new book’s publishing date!
next steps are layout, editing etc. so still some work to be done but it’ll come out in August, we’ll be there in no time 😉