Two More Amaryllis Blossoms

There is nothing like a gift of flowers to make a girl feel special – even an old girl like me. And a plant is even better. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, just like books are the present you can open again and again. (Or is all that too corny?)

I’ve been the lucky recipient of two plants in recent weeks. First, after Christmas, our across-the-street neighbor Bradley gave me one of his fabulous potted amaryllis plants. It had two blossoms on it and two more coming. I enjoyed it day after day and just when I thought it was over and done, along came two more fire-engine red bloom! So cheery looking on these gray winter days and, on sunshiny ones, it pretty much knocks your socks off!

Elegant Orchids in Our East Room

Friday afternoon I came home from a coffee date with my sweetie and on the front porch was another incredible plant. It was an orchid with three lovely blossoms on it and thirteen (13!) buds in various stages of readiness. Even without a note, I knew that Martie-of-the-Northern-Loop had left it. Sure enough, a few hours later I received an email saying it was from her greenhouse. Imagine! A hothouse flower right here in Oysterville! And thriving!

Glow-in-the-Dark Camellias!

And, besides those exotic beauties, we have had a continuous supply of camellias from the bush by our east porch. I have never known it to produce such an amazing display. The more I cut to bring indoors, the more it seems to give me. It is a luscious deep pink. Meanwhile, our other camellia on the south side of the house – the one with Ferrari red blossoms that are about half as big as the current pink ones – is starting to pop with color. The lilacs and rhodies, too, have more buds than I have seen in years.

It’s a plethora of color and promise here in Greater Downtown Oysterville, both inside and outside. Spring is on its way and all is right with our world!