Amaryllis And Orchids For Garden Bloggers Bloom Day December 2014

– Posted in: Acquisitions, What's up/blooming
14 comments

Thirty-seven days after I planted it, the ‘White Nymph’ amaryllis from Longfield Gardens is blooming.

white nymph amaryllis in container sweet nymph in bud

‘White Nymph’ is blooming; ‘Sweet Nymph’ is preparing for a big show!

I was surprised to see how fast it grew. I like the pink flush on the tips of the petals, but I don’t know as I’d call this a double flower. Semi-double would be more like it. At any rate, it sure brightens up our dining room. And–count’em!–six buds on one stalk!

phalaenopsis orchid

I study the intricate veining in this phalaenopsis orchid to rest my eyes from the glowing computer monitor.

Before the amaryllis started blooming, I had already bought this orchid from a big box store. A visitor to my house asked if it was real. Yes, it is, but I confess it looks almost too perfect. Perfection is what’s needed when the weather outside is dreadful–which it has been all too often recently.

One humble grocery store African violet is also blooming, and that’s it. The “Christmas” cactus that my mother gave me was in full bud for Halloween and was finished shortly after Thanksgiving, and none of my other Schlumberas even have buds on them. At the old house, they would have buds by now. I must be doing something wrong, like waiting to water until they’re near death and perhaps not providing enough light as well. I will strive to do better!

Inspired by the words of Elizabeth Lawrence, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year,” Carol of May Dreams Gardens started Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. On the 15th of every month, garden bloggers from all over the world publish what is currently blooming in their gardens, and leave a link in Mr. Linky and the comments of May Dreams Gardens.

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

What differentiates a bulb from a perennial plant is that the nourishment for the flower is stored within the bulb itself.…There is something miraculous about the way that a little grenade of dried up tissue can explode into a complete flower.

~Monty Don in The Complete Gardener pp. 142

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Frank December 24, 2014, 10:51 am

The amaryllis have really done nicely and I love how you have them set up with support that doesn’t even look like support. Nice orchid too. I resisted one at Aldis but could have easily been convinced to take it home… home to its death 🙁

Kathy Purdy December 24, 2014, 11:35 am

My mom did get one from Aldis. You should, too. Just think of them as long-term cut flowers instead of a houseplant you failed with. When my mom’s is near-death, she will ask me if I want it, I will take it and decide after a week that it can’t be revived, and then I will throw it out. You just need someone to throw out dead plants for you!

Jane December 23, 2014, 4:39 am

The amaryllis is such lovely plant. Too bad that it doesn’t bloom longer. Last year I had two red amaryllis, I enjoyed ever second of its blooms.

Jane / MulchMaid December 20, 2014, 2:37 pm

Although I’m not usually a big Amaryllus fan, that soft pink-tinged white is lovely. We have a number of oncidium orchids, but not one of them is blooming for Christmas. I consoled myself with a few Paperwhites that are almost in bloom – maybe by Christmas Day?

Laura @ Raise Your Garden December 17, 2014, 8:10 am

I love plants in the winter too, just brighten up my life. Love the orchid. Home Depot of all places is selling orchids for 5 bucks! You can’t beat it. Plus when I kill them (wish I could say if!) I’m only out 5 bucks. One of my plants has 20 flowers on it!

Helene December 16, 2014, 9:55 pm

Hello, I found your through Carols GBBD post, I love amaryllis and orchids too – and I am a plantaholic 🙂
My gardening year never ends, I have flowers every week of the year in my London garden. I loved your amaryllis, mine are still having their beauty sleep and will be woken up in a couple of weeks’ time.

LESLIE SHIELDS December 16, 2014, 11:23 am

Hi Kathy, What has been successful for me for years with the Schlumberas has been to summer them outside and leave them out until it starts to get cold. I bring them in when they have set buds. I have a friend who keeps telling us that they are rain forest plants not cactus and nee to be kept moist but I do let mine dry out some after flowering but other things work for other people

Donna@GardensEyeView December 15, 2014, 8:19 pm

Kathy that is a gorgeous amaryllis…I just planted mine this week so I hope to see flowers in mid winter…yippee.

Alana December 15, 2014, 6:21 pm

Your amaryllis is beautiful, Kathy. My three amaryllis plants are in the basement in dormancy, waiting for me to get to them. One of them bloomed last year – will see if I can do better for 2015.

Kathy Sturr of the Violet Fern December 15, 2014, 2:56 pm

I LOVE the orchid! I would not have been able to resist adding that to my shopping cart. It makes me think of my poor, suffering orchids at home, though. I would be distracted by it next to my computer – but that’s the idea! Beautiful.

Dee Nash December 15, 2014, 2:00 pm

Hey Kathy, so glad you like White Nymph too. I’ve really enjoyed mine. They are bit of soft sunshine on a cloudy day. Happy Bloom Day!~~Dee

Patsy Bell Hobson December 15, 2014, 1:30 pm

What a charming orchid. I love that color.

Donalyn@TheCreeksideCook December 15, 2014, 1:14 pm

The amaryllis is lovely Kathy – my grandmother gave me one years ago and I had it a long time before it got mislaid in a move and was a teensy dried up knob by the time I saw it again. Love that orchid too!

Jean Campbell December 15, 2014, 1:13 pm

Good choices all. Happy Bloom Day.