Hello everyone -- so....amaryllis season is at its peak now and I've been hearing about many of you all receiving your bulbs in the mail. Please post and share the condition of your bulbs and share your raves and disappointments with the forum community. =) New comers -- please feel free to share what you've ordered. Since the last time I posted, I have ordered quite a bit: John Scheepers Alfresco Amputo Amalfi Exotica Exotic Star Papilio Improved (again....because the one I purchased last season was a no-bloom) Misty Ruby Meyers Snow White Rozetta Gurneys Little Devil Zombie Jungle Bells Edens Blooms/RareBulbs Bellisimo Blushing Bride Bright Spark Evergreen Green Dragon Peach Blossom Lemon Sorbet Jade Serpent Privately Amsterdam Charisma Cherry Nymph Full House Moonlight Neon Rose Paris Pasadena Pink Diamond Pink Nymph Splash Sweet Lillian If you're thinking I'm crazy...I'm thinking the same as well. I have no idea how I'm going to fit all these bulbs in my home (I don't have a greenhouse) and I've spent several hundreds of $$$ on just the bulbs (I'm going to also have to purchase potting soil/claypots). You know what the most saddest thing is? I sorta lied to myself ordering all these bulbs saying I would give most of them away as Christmas gifts. However, going down the list, all of the varieties are not in my collection yet so it would make no sense to give them away as gifts. I think the most atrocious thing of all is, I still want to buy more bulbs. I would love to order Ambiance from Royal Colors and would be happy to have Popov in my collection. With that said, I haven't even taken a look at whats available locally and I know I'll buy certain varieties if I don't have them. I know, I know....I think I'm addicted. Yet, I try to make myself feel better by telling myself that this addiction is better than being addicted to drugs or alcohol and plus, I only splurge at this advanced pace only once a year (amaryllis season). I'm sure many of you all in the U.S. are feeling it, but the economy is a mess. At times like this, people are encouraged to spend less, and save. I feel bad about pampering myself with all these bulbs. But yet again, I try to reason with my inner me by telling myself that if I don't spend, I'm making the economy worse off by not putting money into our financial system, therefore not giving businesses revenue, making people lose jobs due to lack of sales/profits. Excuses, excuses, excuses.....I know. How I am going to explain all these new pots and bulbs to my friends and family who visit, I do not know and cannot tell. But, I find peace within myself thinking of the plethora of shapes and colors I will have before me during the cold winter months here in Virginia. Thank you all for listening (this has been really getting at my conscience) and I appreciate your support. I will be sure to share tons and tons of photos for all of your amaryllis lovers throughout the world. Have a great weekend everyone! =)

Xuan I love your space!!!! It looks well-protected but also breezy and open. Well done! Josh I grow mine in full sun too and at 6500' thats a lot of sun-- but the plants thrive in it. I don't know what others do or what the books say (Read's book?) but my plants-- especially the pap- get over 12 hours of direct sun at the height of the Summer. The trick is keeping them well watered and fed-- given that they won't hold back. Of course, I have to ease my plants into outdoor growing. The change in sun intensity from inside to outside is exceptional for these plants and then add in the fact that I live in a high-wind area, it takes me a while to slowly move my plants into the full sun areas. Once there, they usually shed many of their winter leaves and replace them with very thick summer ones that with-stand the Spring winds. Of course, if we get a hail storm, they lose all of their leaves, but on advice from mental health professionals, I don't think about that possibility any longer. LOL

Thanks ya'll! I'm really enjoying this one, Theresa! Kristi- You are so lucky! I would love to have a few of these! I am new to the third scape, but I love it! Jodi- yes, the addiction has really manifested itself now! Now that the price of gas is $1.59 per gallon as opposed to $3.99, I can justify buying more bulbs for what I was spending at the pump...makes sense, right? I think we all justify our purchases in some way that makes sense to us! haha! I'm far from having a real "jungle" like yours, so for now it remains only "mini"...haha! I also have tons of other houseplants, so space is at a premium. Also like you, I manage to keep squeezing more in! HAHA! Ann- This "Diamond Dust" is incredible and very hard to describe or capture with the camera. It is just amazing! I hate to hear that about your babies and hope they will make a full recovery for you!! Kitty- I'm sure with 3 of these beauties, you are in for 3 times the treat! Do post photos for us when they are in full glory! Larissa- I don't think that Gran Cru will shoot rays of sunshine any time soon, but if so...def let us know! hehe! I recommend getting an 'Exotica' to make up for any disappointment! So glad to hear your husband isn't a "hater" and is getting in on the fun! Tell him to be careful because the addiction is contagious! HAHA! Happy Blooming all, -Frank

Jetak...Here are pics of my 3 Appleblossoms in Spring 2007. As you can see the one in the lower left has darker coloration. Being one of the older varieties in production, registered in 1954, different strains produce characteristic differences. Your Appleblossom is fine and very beautiful.