Seven Inches

Is the diameter of the blooms on my amaryllis (what? ..get your head outta' the gutter).

This plant is insane and beautiful! A little over a year ago, Laurel gave me this amaryllis bulb for my birthday. I don't have a ton of plant experience, however, I'd like to think that some of my Mom's green thumb was passed on to me.

Well, this bulb grew and grew AND GREW, but only leaves! Ginormous, albeit healthy, green leaves and no flowers. It became impossible to move and, I'll admit - I was ready to kick it to the curb. Finally, the leaves started to die off in the Fall and, per my research, I found out I had to wait for each 3 foot leaf to yellow, wither, and die completely before I could chop it, so that the bulb could absorb all of the nutrients, how pleasant.

Apparently, sometimes the prissy amaryllis does not have enough "energy" to bestow flowers.

I brought out the bulb last month, after a little bit of water and TLC = voila, and holy shit I have two stalks with blooms! This picture was taken yesterday; two more flowers have opened since and I'll have a total of six flowers when it is done blooming.

I couldn't be more pleased with the results. I'm trying to resist (unsuccessfully) taking pictures of it every day but I just can't get over how exciting it is to watch my amaryllis take shape (finally!). "She" is brightening my last week of February and constantly reminding me that Spring is on the way.