Getting Better At It

A few years ago, I resloved to get any amaryllis to bloom again. My attempt did not work the first year. The scond year, I planted it in the garden in spring. It bloomed there in late summer, but not in winter.

Never giving up, the follow year I did the same, but tried to keep the bulb's schedule closely aligned with the season. I did eek out a small bloom then. Last year, with four bulbs now in the ground during the summer, I watered and fertilized them up the wazoo. After bringing them into the basement when frost hit, they stayed in the dark with no water from October on.

Die, damn it. Die! These little suckers continued to stay green well into January. Last month, they began to wilt and turn yellow. That was my clue. After wacking off the leaves, I planted them, gave them water and sun, and now have three of the four with buds or blooms. This double-flowered one, 'Double Delicious', was a gift last year and is doing great. The other two are coming along at different stages.