Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Amaryllis

Amaryllis Apple Blossom - gardenia.net

 I love potting up amaryllis bulbs to have in bloom around the house for the holidays. I think they look especially beautiful in blue and white Chinese porcelain cachepots. In Florida, they they can even be planted outdoors. So that is on tap for today.

I finished my mulching project yesterday and the garden looks stunning. Since I am ahead of schedule, today I am gong to start my outdoor Christmas decorating putting lights on the topiaries. I adore topiaries and so far have added 6 to the garden. I have a thing about electrical cords and extension cords all over, so I did a bunch of research on outdoor battery lights and ordered some from Amazon. The batteries supposedly last quite long with the LED. No electrical cords around and no big electric bill either. I have Eugenia topiaries in single, double, and triple balls and swirls and I think they will look wonderful with white lights.

I also ordered some whimsical faux topiaries for the garden that arrive today, but I will keep those a secret until I photograph them to share. 

Folks see to be falling into two groups as far as Christmas decorating with the backdrop of the pandemic. Some are decorating early, others are thinking about skipping it this year. What about you?




25 comments:

  1. I had hoped to have started my Christmas decorating but being in a new home has caused some delays. As soon as I can I will decorate. Please let us know how good your battery lights are for your topiaries. I long for the day with no cords!

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    1. I did the entire yard without one cord and it looks great. The lights turn themselves on and off and come with 8 functions. So pleased. Hope you can decorate soon.

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  2. Ah...I just received my box of amaryllis bulbs as well as a few paper whites in the mail this week. I planted the bulbs in glass pots, pebbles, dirt, bulb then a bit of moss on top. I will wait a bit for the paper whites as they tend to come up quicker. Many do not care for the scent of the paper whites; I love this!

    When the blooms are spent I plant them in the garden for a rebloom in the spring. This year, the deer have nibbled on the strappy leaves, though they are still alive. Fingers crossed for a bloom later.

    Nothing more beautiful than fresh blooms at Christmastime.

    best,
    teaorwine

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    1. I love the smell of paperwhites. Do you have a favorite online source for bulbs?

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  3. Just the tree and the mantle indoors this year, only the front door outside. I groused yesterday that it doesn't even make sense to wrap presents, since there will be nobody here to open them to the oooohs and ahhhhs of onlookers. Everything will be delivered to our loved ones' doorsteps in ugly boxes. Sigh... Trying to keep my sunny side up this season is exhausting. Best wishes.

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  4. Nat King Cole guides my holidays. Decorating 'makes the season bright'. I will be skipping the tree since my dog recently lost his eye sight. Without family and friends, dressing the house will cheer me up.

    Do keep us posted on the faux topiaries. I live on the Atlantic side of FL and have had no luck with the real thing.

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    1. So glad you are in the spirit. Hope your pup is adjusting well.

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  5. I am putting up Christmas right after Thanksgiving. Each house I see at this time is such a celebration. A sprinkle of glitter and joy! I hope we all decorate. It helps us say, we can beat this together.

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    1. Absolutely. This is my first year in this community, so I have no idea if many decorate. I am the only house with lights so far, but it's early.

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  6. Please give us an update on your amazon outdoor battery lights. That is such a great idea!!!

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    1. So far I love them. Turn themselves on and off, 8 functions, no cords, no electric bill.

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  7. I absolutely love amaryllis and I planted mine in blue and white chinoiserie pots also. I will be doing my usual all out decorating.

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    1. Wonderful. And I adore amaryllis in blue and white cachepots.

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  8. I am doing my decorating the usual way- winter decor goes up the week after Thanksgiving, and the specifically Christmas Dec. 10 and comes down New Years Day. However . I leave my snowmen and snowflakes out until Feb. because the house looks so "naked" after all the festive holiday decor comes down.. Some are hand made, and I especially treasure some pre-WW2 Czech. glass ornaments that belonged to my favorite aunt.
    While I accept that this won't be the usual holiday season, I will enjoy what I can.
    I refuse to allow covid to rob me of the pleasure of displaying these things I have collected over a lifetime.
    Happy Non Traditional Thanksgiving
    Penny Luckenbaugh

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    1. Yes, the house always looks so empty when the Christmas decorating come down. Maybe we should leave them up - LOL. Your collection sounds lovely.

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  9. Plan to keep the downstairs low key and elegant this year, but pulled out the stops upstairs last weekend. No chinoiserie, no chic -- but lots of colorful sentimental favorites in traditional Christmas colors, many of which were things my mother collected. Just feels right this year to have a fun escape just a few steps away.

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  10. My son’s father in law send these out every year and I messed up trying to force them to rebloom so I killed all but the last one. Fingers crossed this one makes it. I put them in a blue and white pot as well. Im decorating a ton again this year, COVID or no.

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  11. While one can't do much about the external realities, one can do much with how to react to them. This is the very year to wrap yourself in Christmas festivities as much as possible to bring good cheer and lift the spirits. This year is the year to festoon the eaves with Christmas lights so that all looks festive. This is the year to dust off the heirloom recipes and boil the Christmas pudding (I did mine today), bake some buttery shortbread, make mince pies from scratch, cook one of Nigella Lawsons boozy, unctious Christmas cakes, and have peaceful Christmas carols playing in the house and car. Buy a real tree and decorate it, pop that wreath on the door, send out the cards with bright good wishes, and don't let that nasty virus spoil the entire year. Tomorrow would have been our son's wedding, now postponed, so we know well about joys being spoiled, but if we are to be forced into a limited circle of life in Lockdown, my home, at least, will be filled with authentic Christmas smells, Christmas sounds, and colour.

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    1. A beautiful comment, thank you. You have a great attitude.

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  12. My husband suggested I set up my Christmas village this year (which I haven't done in several years), so I did that a few weeks ago. Then I ordered a new, 5' pencil tree, got new decorations just for it, and set it up last week. I'm holding off on the other decorations (and the big tree) until Thanksgiving weekend. Since we won't be going anywhere or having anyone here, all the decorating will add an air of festivity and kick off the holiday season. Going to focus on what we have and gratitude for a warm house, sufficient food, sparkly decorations, and healthy family (even if they are at a distance this year).

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    1. Sounds wonderful. So many are going through such a terrible time, we have to keep things in perspective.

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  13. I still have kids at home (teens), so decorating will happen despite my parents and brother not spending the holidays with us. Last week I planted my paper whites and a small myrtle topiary in blue and white pots. We will get our tree early because we need something festive to keep us going. Thankful my husband has Christmas off, the first time in a few years (ER physician) so that coupled with the fact that we are all healthy, is enough reason to celebrate.

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    1. Glad you are all staying safe and healthy. I would love to find myrtle topiaries.

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