Hi Ryan, any idea as to whether or not this mystery is a double or single flowering variety?

I guess Elvas if it's a double.....and....San Remo if it's a single? I can't wait to see the end result! =)

I'm not good at guessing or at identifying by name... it could be any one of the pink varieties... whatever it is, it will be very pretty, judging by the buds!

I just know that the buds look like something to anticipate with pleasure! I have a few that are sending out 3rd or 4th scapes on them after a rest, but nothin in bloom right now and I miss the fun of watching them. I do have a pot of lycoris radiata , one with a bud stalk almost 3' tall...

I thought by this time I would not care about house plants because so much would be going on outside, but then spring came late and cold. We are just starting to have sunny days in the low 60's with intermitent rain showers and not that long ago they were snow showers. Not sure where global warming is this spring!

I look forward to seeing your buds burst open into glowing flowers here!

I recently read in a magazine that last year's late freeze was a one in a million occurrence... and here we are again in the same cold boat! I think the changes due to global warming have been under-estimated...

I don't know if it is a double or not-- can't really tell yet and since I have no idea what it is myself I cannot be certain. But here are more photos-- updates if you will. The first bud is descending, suggesting it is well on its way to blooming.

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Picotee

Wow, ryan, how do you get an amaryllis to bloom more than once a year?

I have to go with Maria's guess... Picotee... it's got that hint of dark edging...

Yes, how do you get more than one bloom period per year?

"Wow, ryan, how do you get an amaryllis to bloom more than once a year?"

Amaryllis6 and Jodik--

I wish I had some amazing insight and wisdom to this question but the truth it-- I just grow them in my pots, give them water when they want it, food when they need it and I let them do the rest. It helps that Dancing Queen is an amazing bulb-- it has grown in size the 1.5 years I've had it while blooming in roughly 1.5 intervals. Maria once said that Dancing Queen is a "giver." That she is-- she loves to bloom!

All of my bulbs bloom more than once a year but usually they bloom about 6 months apart. Jewel bloomed this year with 2 scapes in succession-- but has just bloomed again (only a month later) with another two. People don't believe me when I attribute my plants' health to practically living on the sun's surface (we're roughly 7000 feet in elevation at my house). So they get a ton of sun and therefore a ton of water (it's very dry here, too). My bulbs thrive in it.

I'm home sick today (aaaaaaaaaaawful sore throat). I have a flight this weekend that I really want to do so I'm staying home, eating soup and watching this bulb open...

Well here are some more clues-- it is definitely a double, much to my surprise!

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And it is definitely not picotee-- the comparison helps because mine is currently blooming...

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And so is Ragtime--

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So I imagine this is easily IDed now-- but I have no idea what it is. I remember wanting an Elvas bulb-- so hopefully this is it.

Think you have yourself an Elvas!

Haha did I win???? Actually, the moment I saw it, I immediately thought Elvas. However, my brain didn't want to believe it was a double because I thought I had read somewhere at sometime that you didn't particularly fancy double flowering hybrids? Anywhoos, I have Elvas as well and it was a double bloomer (two consecutive scapes) for me and those buds in the first set of pictures reminded me of my Elvas when it was in bud. Congrats, the flowers are going to be gorgeous! =)

Woohoo!!! I'm not going to order one then.....and it was my mistake-- I have one more mystery bulb left....but it is quite small...so it'll be a little while before it blooms.

Elvas is one I don't have... yet! It's quite gorgeous! Lovely blooms, Ryan! You're lucky to have these beauties in bloom now! Mine are all finished for this season...

I would attribute your bulbs' frequent blooming to a combination of things, the elevation probably being the clincher. I would also have to say that it's your attentive care that pushes them to bloom so much for you!

Can't wait to see the last one, too!

I have been giving that a thought too Jodi. I'm in a higher elevation too here in the Cumberland mountains. Not as high as Ryan's though.

Yes! And look at your collection, too, Maria! You are able to grow phenominal bulbs, and your seedlings and young ones all look so healthy and strong! It may very well have to do with elevation! That, and the care you take in cultivating your stock. You get a lot of repeat bloomers, too, don't you?

I have no idea what the elevation here is, but Central Illinois is as flat as a pancake, and a lot of the ground seems rather low and wet. I don't think it's detrimental to growing nice flowers, but I do think you guys have an advantage.

I would say that the QUALITY of light they receive is very important and not just the length of exposure.

I cannot really tell you of my success with my bulbs-- or any plant for that matter. I do know that when I'm outside on a hot summer's day and the sun is beating down on me it is incredibly strong-- so much so that you can feel it searing your skin. At the same time, you can see how the plants just thrive in it. Some people hardly water their bulbs at all in the summer when they're taken outside. Here it is too dry. If I let nature water them I'd have no bulbs as you can see them wilting even in the morning sun! So they get a lot of water-- but they also dry out by the sunset-- ergo no rott.

I grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania-- growing all manner of things is in my genes-- but back in PA, the sun was not as strong-- nor did grass grow under our huge maple trees. Here in Colorado, plants tend to do better under trees-- and I think it is directly a result of the sun's intensity here. Rarely does a day go by without our UV index pegging 10.

I do agree with Maria when she said it is the quality of the light the plant receives as I position my bulbs so they get morning and afternoon sun-- never mid-day when the sun is simply over-powering.

My inlaws also have an alpaca ranch-- so a little alpaca poop does wonders for these babies!

I'm off to enjoy my Elvas now...see yahs!

I think both of you are right... and I wholeheartedly agree that it's quality and not necessarily quantity that makes a difference. Add to that a regimen of excellent care, and you have a distinct advantage in growing the healthiest bulbs that are physically able to repeat bloom at intervals throughout the year.

I don't have access to alpaca manure, but we do have an abundance of horse, goat and fowl doodoo, not to mention what I call "duck poop tea"... the dirty pool water from the Muscovy ducks! We use it to water the perennial beds, and it really seems to make a difference in growth! Natural fertilizers are so much better than all the chemicals available!