Do you remember when I planted up my three Amaryllis bulbs?
It was January 8th.
The above photo was taken twenty days later on January 28th.
Its been a source of enormous pleasure watching these bulbs grow.
Every day, a little taller.
Up, up, up.
Above photo, 9th February.
This is Amaryllis Red Lion in the lead.
It far outruns it's competitors Vera and Minerva in the race to take centre stage.
The first glimpse of that colour offers a delicious promise of what is yet to come.
Sweet suspense as I continue to watch and wait.
11th February and the flowers are getting ready for the show.
I continue to be entranced, to watch, wait and almost hold my breath in anticipation of the performance.
13th February and I decide to move Red Lion.
The windowsill where it has grown so tall suddenly doesn't seem safe.
Too near to Kid Level.
So I choose a tall shelf.
It will be safe here, and I'll be able to watch the show unfold.
Today :: 16th February and I am in the front row, gasping with pleasure and delight at the performance.
That colour!
That Flamboyance!
The sheer drama of this flowering beauty!
Rather tragically, the high shelf was not as safe as I had hoped.
Two of the eight flowers were removed before they could open.
One was knocked by me as I was repositioning Red Lion.
It fell heavily to the ground.
"*&X@$*^&!!!!!!!" (insert foul-mouthed expletives)
Another was carried carefully in little hands and solemnly presented to me.
"Mummy, this flower fell off. All by Itself."
Later, under scrutiny, we uncover the truth...
"Actually, it didn't come off by itself. Barbie knocked it."
Naughty Barbie.
Now these two fallen flowers are blooming in a small jar where we can watch close up.
It lifts my heart and soul to observe such colour and beauty.
Vibrant, radiant, intense colour on the greyest, wettest, most miserable of February days.
I tuoi amaryllis sono meravigliosi come il tuo blog!! Sei bravissima!!!!!!!!
Complimenti
Posted by: Simo | February 17, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Beautiful. It puts me in mind of Georgia O'Keefe. The way if fills the frame is perfect.
Posted by: alisonb2 | February 17, 2009 at 01:58 PM
very lovely flower display , such great colours. naughty barbie ! ha ha its usually waving lightsabers in our house that do the damage!!
Posted by: noelle | February 16, 2009 at 09:49 PM
Oh I do love floosie flowers.Quite nice to have them bloom on little jars - but really - get that Barbie girl under control - you see this is what comes of extended boobs, clearly she is totally off balance! t.x
Posted by: kitschen pink | February 16, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Tsk, Tsk, never mind. They're still beautiful, just stemless!!
That Barbie has a lot to answer for.
Looking forward to seeing the others, are they the same colour??
Posted by: Jude | February 16, 2009 at 08:16 PM
Good Morning sweet Lucy,
Your Red Lion is breath-takingly beautiful. I can't have them because of my kitties. They chew anything resembling live plants in the house and amarylis are not cat friendly. So thank you for sharing yours.
I am anxiously awaiting, no - buzzing with impatients, our upcoming flowery event. Last fall we planted a surprise for our neighbors in our front yard lawn - about 100 multi-colored crocus in the shape of a peace sign!!!!! The green tips are popping up through the grass now, even though it will be next month when they have their audition. I will watch from the front window at the neighbors surprise and joy when they witness the bright yellows and purples springing up to shout PEACE! I'll be sure and post a link.
Thanks again for all the joy you share.
Moonie
Posted by: Moonie | February 16, 2009 at 07:49 PM
They are too much of a temptation for little ones. I remember Oriana holding budding flowers in her fat little fist. Too squished for salvation. It still blooms though, this will be its 11th year!
Posted by: Arianwen | February 16, 2009 at 06:16 PM
WOW!! How beautiful they turned out to be. And red, my favorite color!! How did you know? :) LOL!! I never got around to buying any this year but you can bet I will next winter after seeing how pretty yours turned out.
Don't the little stories of how things just happened crack you up. Believe me, I have had my share. I still give the "Really?" look and the truth just spills out. Too Funny!! At least you have the lovely blooms to still look at.
Have a great day Luce!!! :D
xxxxx
Posted by: Kar | February 16, 2009 at 06:04 PM
OH dear naughty Barbie - at least you get a beautiful flower in the vase to gaze at. Love the little flower border on your shelf too - are they hamma beads?
xx
Posted by: Janette | February 16, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Poor Vera and Minerva - they didn't stand a chance!!!
Posted by: simone | February 16, 2009 at 04:57 PM
Oh, they are lovely! I love red flowers. They look gorgeous on that shelf, the display is great.
Funny how everything happens "all by itself," hmm? I have a lot of that around my house, too. ;)
Posted by: Bunny | February 16, 2009 at 04:32 PM
That Barbie is always up to mischief!! Amazing amaryllis!
Posted by: French Knots | February 16, 2009 at 04:31 PM
prefect angle, perfect shot added value to the beautiful flowers.
Posted by: jeane | February 16, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Oh, I love the gorgeous red view of the "performance." And I especially love the story of the not-quite-perfect 2 dropped flowers who still continue to bloom.
Posted by: Shelley in SC | February 16, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Lucy Thankyou! Just returned from work with a belter of a headache, seen your post & smiled at your post of sunshine & colour.... Think I might (no, need too) bottle you & take to work for my patients....Glad to see I'm ot the only one with mischevious toys in the house... Love Lydia
Posted by: Lydia | February 16, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Beautiful flowers and a story to be kept for future years. Can I just add how wonderful it is to see all the clours in your home. I happened on your blog via Scrapbook Inspirations while I was looking for crocheted flowers and it really caught my eye. It is so nice to see so many colours especially at a time when everything seems so grey :)
Posted by: Liz Lee | February 16, 2009 at 03:28 PM
Lovely to see your flowers especially as my own amaryllis are all done and dusted.
Loving the red lion name, they need "big" names to match their flamboyant personalities.
Thanks also for the pretty valentine you gave us, it brought sweet memories for me of not so long ago, of my children before they found valentines day just a total embarassment and certainly not to be mentioned by parents. I used to make a pink iced sponge cake in a heart shaped tin-I wonder where that went. Susan x
Posted by: susan hall | February 16, 2009 at 03:25 PM
These are the stories you will always remember and they are as sweet as the flowers themselves. Thank you for sharing. ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
Posted by: Kelly | February 16, 2009 at 03:12 PM
Totally exquisite!!!
Posted by: cathleen | February 16, 2009 at 03:03 PM
What lovely flowers! If you plant the bulb outdoors in summer,it should bloom for you again next year. Don't let the bulb freeze, though...you have to bring it in.
Oh yes, I remember Barbie and her evil doings!
Fran
Posted by: weedwacker | February 16, 2009 at 02:34 PM
What a lovely show that has been! I too love watching flowers open...too beautiful, that red color is just perfect. And to me, well, the flower Barbie took hold of, well, I think that's the most special of all, I love the way *her* story unfolded, just as special as the flower :-)
~Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | February 16, 2009 at 02:06 PM