Almost

So, no more snow shots. I'm sick of it!

We bought this amaryllis bulb at Christmas time and its flower is just now beginning to open up. I love to anticipate its blossoming and watch the big strappy leaves and stout stem shoot up. The "real" name of amaryllis is Hippeastrum, but I've never heard anyone call it that. Amaryllis are native to South America and the native species have relatively small funnel shaped flowers. It wasn't until the Victorians got involved in growing and breeding them that the flamboyant forms we are now familiar with came into existence. There's nothing shy about these blossoms now. The huge trumpet-shaped blooms, often in blazing orangey-red colors, are a wonderful antidote to the gray days of winter.