Amaryllis: More Than Just a Pretty Flower (And a Piano Piece!)

By Linda Elissalde
Amaryllis is the only genus in the sub tribe Amaryllidinae. It has two species: Amaryllis Belladonna and Amaryllis Hippeastrum. The colors vary. Amaryllis Hippeastrum can be grown inside during winter months. Amaryllises are bulbous plants. With care, bulbs can produce flowers for many years. (Thank you, GOOGLE.) I once had a piano piece titled AMARYLLIS. The flower is much lovelier than my rendition.

I am not a great gardener. I do not coddle plants. My motto is, “Grow or out you go!” However, the amaryllis garners a special spot in my heart. Daddy, Charlie Schmucker, used to send one each year to my teaching buddy Sharon Pope and one to me. I do not know exactly when the boxed flowers arrived, but it was about the same time each year. We placed each in a window in our rooms. Students kept watch over their transformation from little leaves to tall stems to small blossoms to beautiful colorful Amaryllis blooms. Easter arrives at different times each year. Those plants always burst forth just around Easter time. How could an Amaryllis know what time Easter was every year?

Sharon and I are long retired, but we each have a long time gifted flower. Although Sharon is an excellent gardener, she had forgotten about her Amaryllis. Surprise! This year it thrust itself up through other foliage to appear around Easter season. I paid no attention to the one that I have in a pot. One bulb has now become six. They come back every year though not as strong. Maybe I should do something. Sherry Morgan of Crystal Beach has a gorgeous Amaryllis of her own. It owns a special spot on her deck. Blooms return for a visit on schedule. Her thesis is location, location, location.

Maybe someday I will pay attention to my beautiful Amaryllis. Probably not, but it does not seem to really need my help. It just keeps on producing petals and comes back to visit each Easter season no matter when Easter returns.

Linda

I was born on February 14, 1941 into a family of writers. Schmuckers took pen in hand for thank you notes, news articles, lessons, plays, poetry, birthdays, eulogies, etc. Aquarius prediction in my diary stated, “Has some writing abilities, but too superficial to be important”. Thanks to all who accept my compositions anyway. I come from a family of writers.

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