What's Going On Here?

I went downstairs this morning to bring up my new amaryllis bulbs just getting ready to pop. Here is one called White Christmas. I thought that I would enjoy a white one after all the red ones that I have had. This one is growing very tall and with my experience...she will need some fishing line tied to her and the windowsill...to keep her straight. This is called Charisma. She sent out two shoots. Clear white petals splashed with raspberry...should be a stunner. She is shorter and won't be outdone by White Christmas...so she sent out another bud. What a show off!

Now what do I see here? My avocado plant is starting to sprout new leaves. Right in the center, where I (pruned) the central leaves. I have watched this fascinating plant for a couple of months...for new growth and lo and behold, just as winter reared it's dreary head she starts again. Her stem is still very skinny...my theory about snipping the central leaves to encourage lower growth is just not working. Onward and upward oh tree of mine.

Over in the corner, under the lights, the Christmas cactus is starting up again. She just bloomed in December. After she stopped. I put her downstairs under the lights and now she is budding again. This is the white one...I wonder if the hot pink one will follow suit? Now don't think that you two are in competition...I'm happy with just one, but two would be divine.

Right next to the lighted shelves, in front of the windows my amaryllis from last year is sending up a flower bud. She has no name, but last year and the year before...she was gorgeous. She spends her summers in my front garden...getting no special care...just the same as her surrounding neighbors. Then in the fall she goes to the basement for a 6-8 week rest. "Ho Hummmm! I'm so sleepy," she says. "No water, no light, stuck in the corner, I might as well just nap....Balisha's forgotten me." Then one bright day, Balisha comes into the dark room and says, "Wake up you sleepy head...let's see what you can do." There are other plants on the shelf and Miss Amaryllis looks around. Some of the plants are very showy, some are very viney, some are very twiney. She feels a stirring under the soil and then with a flower "burp" a bud starts to emerge. Balisha has a smile on her face and runs to grab the camera. Here she is...the no name amaryllis. Balisha will call her "Miss Scarlet."

Well, that's enough for today. I have so much watering and tending to do now. In a short time...these beauties will be blooming and I will again bore you with amaryllis pictures. Ho Hum!

Balisha