Flowering Houseplant of the Year

There was really no thinking involved in this choice. The Amaryllis with it's breath taking bloom has the honor of being a favorite for many people. Buying a brown, onion like bulb, putting it in a pot with some soil and a little water and magically a large green shoot appears. It grows taller each day. My Dad would measure it each day to see how much it grew. A swollen bud starts to open and you almost hold your breath, waiting. In a day or two...a majestic flower opens one at a time until finally you have a cluster of four or more blooms. If you are lucky a second stem will start the same process. This plant deserves a special place in my holiday decorated home. I have a book shelf in the breakfast nook, by the big sliding glass doors where I put my Amaryllis plants mixed in with a few green houseplants...some Ivy plants and an Ivy topiary. I keep some spaghnum moss on the pots to hide the dirt and then let the Ivy trail up and over each Amaryliss. I add a couple of red bows and a few pinecones. I have even added a dish of Paperwhites (if they are blooming at the same time) I wish that I had taken a picture of this. The above picture is the only one that I didn't take. I put my amaryllis outside to rest in the summer and when I checked on them...this one was blooming. I didn't have a camera, so I didn't get the picture, but it was similar to the one pictured above. She's resting in the basement right now and soon I will bring her out to see if she wants to bloom again.

I don't keep track of the names...so I can't tell you the variety. This one was huge and so beautiful.

This was a little smaller...a dwarf Amaryllis. I actually got three stems on this one. I am finding that when they come back again for me...they aren't quite as spectacular. A little smaller, but still a beautiful plant.

Another red one. So stately, standing tall amongst the Christmas greens below. This one I know....Charisma. Such a delicate bloom. Tissue paper thin with a darker edging. You can almost see through this one. I have lots of pictures of all kinds of Amaryllis that I have grown these are just a few. I have always saved them from year to year...sometimes successful the next year and sometimes not. I have 4 in the basement right now just starting out and two in the dark waiting till later. The one in the dining room is growing taller each day. Winter is long here in No. Illinois and anything that brings some color into the house is welcome. It's something to keep you busy on those snowy days. I like to save some for after Christmas, so I have a red one for Valentine's Day.

Balisha

PS: Tomorrow I will start collecting the names of those of you who comment... for the next 50 posts leading up to my 1000th post. They will go in a big container and I will draw a name when I hit 1000 and the winner will win a prize.I'll keep the container on my computer desk and from time to time I'll show you how it's going. Balisha :)