No harm done

Remember my ghost bud of a couple of weeks ago?
Well, it appears that the extended blanching in the basement didn't hurt.
The stem and leaves started greening up as soon as the plant got some sunlight.
The bud filled out and became four lovely flowers over the weekend.
I love that the flower is so unabashed about flashing its parts. You can't really call these stamens and pistil "privates."

Ghost bud

My houseplants are lucky the Sergeant moved in, since I have a black thumb for anything green indoors. He's much more conscientious about watering and such.

Case in point: The amarylises (amaryli?) that I waited too long to stash in the lightless cellar for forced dormancy ... and then forgot about.

I was rummaging in the deep freeze the other day when this one (on top of the freezer) caught my eye. Whoa!

Just goes to show you, plants really do want to grow, no matter what.

Easter flowers

I know, I know, amaryllis are supposed to bloom at Christmas.
But I stashed them in the basement rather belatedly for dormancy, then forgot about them until a month ago.
They're apt for Easter, anyway: "The angels came to roll away the stone before His tomb."

Even if you're not a Christian, you pick this stuff up.

Floral parade

First, a couple of mysteries.

My neighbors have this lovely blooming shrub that I never noticed before. From a distance I thought they had hung decorations on it – the flowers all look so perfect and unusual.
What is it? If I had to guess, I'd say some kind of magnolia. It's about waist-high.

Then there's this orange shrub, which I've seen in many yards. I have no idea what it is. Do you?
We were supposed to get rain or snow today, but as far as I know, there was only a little drizzle this morning before I got up. Later this week, the highs will only be in the 30s. So they say. I don't believe them anymore.

The bees were going to town on this weeping cherry. I really notice bees everywhere now. You try it; go stand under a flowering tree (once your trees are flowering) for a few minutes. Whoa! There's a lot of bees there. It's delightful.
In another few days I'll have some delight indoors, too. I didn't get around to forcing dormancy on my amaryllis bulbs until Thanksgiving. Brought them out a couple of weeks ago and they all have bud stalks now.
I should repot this one, but it seems happy the way it is.

Second chance

I love it when my amaryllis blooms twice. This one last bloomed two months ago.

Also, Amaryllis

Late bloomer

I took these photos this morning. Doesn't it just figure that the amaryllis that I brought out of dormancy in October decided to bloom in May during the exact time I would not be home to enjoy it?

Look how tall it is! Crazy thing.