Late to the Party

I planted the five amaryllis bulbs in the garden last summer to allow them to regenerate. They all seemd to enjoy the warm weather and remained healthy-looking into fall. No new growth appeaered on any following their intiial flush of leaves after blooming in winter.

I lifted them before the frost came, and left them in the cool dark baseemnt so they could go to sleep. But, they were insomniacs. For months on end the leaves remained green and lush in their new soil-less home. No water, no sunlight, but they looked to be happy and in good condition.

I noticed a little yellowing and wilting of some leaves in January, so I cut them off and with fingers crossed, potted the bulbs. This was really later than I expected to get them into bloom mode. But, four of the five put up flower stalks, and two of them put up two.

This one, 'Mandela' is the newest and the last of the bunch to bloom. Its dark maroon-red flower and somewhat shorter stalks are things I will look forawrd to next year. It would be nice to have them blooming at Christmas, so I think the lesson is to get them out of the garden in September and pot them up in November.