Every October, I buy an amaryllis bulb from the grocery store or the hardware store, bring it home and set the bulb in it's pot with growing medium and place it in a window in anticipation of her bloom. And, every year, without fail, this rather nondescript bulb, other than for its size, transforms itself into a "splendiforous" aura of colorful, curly petals that slowly unfold themselves, in frivolous fashion, on top of a straight, strong spire of a stem. Every year, until this year that is, the amaryllis I buy starts blooming somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas and can be the standout beauty in the display of holiday decorations.
However, this year, except for a few emerging smooth, strap-like leaves from the top of the half-exposed bulb sticking out of the dirt, my amaryllis was no where to be seen at Thanksgiving and showed no signs of blooming anytime soon. When she did finally decide to make her petals' presence known, she arrived much too late as it was long after the Christmas Party, Boxing Day Brunch and even New Year's Celebrations. After all, it is almost the end of January yet, she chose to make her debut around the middle of this bitterly cold month. Right now, the amaryllis stands proudly in the family room window, its stem reaches for the cold, bright sun outside, lording over the snow covered herb garden.
For all of her tardiness, she is now standing straight and proper, like the perfect lady she has been bred to be in the family room window, overcoming the starkness of this cold month. Amaryllis is timid and sweet and glorious all at once. Perhaps, for me, it is best that this amaryllis bloomed late this year, as I have time to linger and gaze and truly appreciate her self-imposed arrogance reflected in her bloom time, as she dwells upon her own wintertime brilliance. Amaryllis is an especially easy bulb to grow as a houseplant and what a treat to enjoy this flower, after the holiday grandeur, to remind me of the small blessings that miraculously appear everyday, throughout the year.
The Latin name for amaryllis is Hippeastrum, which means ‘knight’s star’, and the plants originate in central and southern America. In the language of flowers, amaryllis embodies the characteristics of timidity, pride, even haughtiness and most of all, beauty and she is surely all of that rolled into one and I'm so glad I've had a chance to get to know her whether she arrives to the party on time or like this year for me, fashionably late.
