Hi Beetle! Such pretty plants and bulbs all enjoying the sunshine there! Thanks for sharing!

Best holiday wishes to you!

-Frank

What a beautiful scene! Gorgeous, thanks for sharing!

Very Pretty!
Susan

Thanks Frank, Anna, and Susan, hope your Holidays were Wonderful! Heres a little update on the dark beauty lol:
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That is a deep colored Gran Cru beetle! I think there are lots of wannabee's running around because mine was much lighter. What an excellent photograph! It shows the color and texture so beautifully! I hope you try for seeds from it!

Thank you for sharing!

-Frank

Beetle...That is the real Grand Cru. I am strongly doubting the "true-ness" of these Walmart Grand Cru(s) this season. Their Grand Cru last season was real. I got very lucky Cindee acquired one for me in FL.

Cindee...I miss ya girlfriend!

Maria- I got my Grand Cru from Walmart last year and it was no where near as dark as this photo Beetle has...I don't even know why they bother to put names on what they sell because they are almost never correct. I am in agreement with someone else here that said they probably just change the names every year to make people think they are buying a "new" variety since most people pitch them (gasps!) after them bloom anyway. Such as the 'Flamingo Star' 'Sovereign' mystery bulbs. The only one I believe that was correct last year was one 'Stargazer' out of the 5 I purchased there...there were pretty though regardless!

The store I went to today still had them at $10.00 even though most of them were so bad off that the scapes had come out and dried up or been torn off. I had to just turn and walk away. It was so HORRIBLE! I did rescue a S&H baby from Target in a nice copper planter labeled as 'Minerva', but I don't think it is that. The bloom is already out so I hope it will open all the way up. If not, there is another scape waiting to emerge. It was half price at $7.48.

I also picked up 4 more Red Lions (all I could get to without knocking over the entire Paperwhite display! hehe)at Home Depot for $2.99 each...I just couldn't help it! I'm thinking of blooming them all together in one display and then they will go out in the ground. Planning is always good, right? HAHA!

-Frank (who REALLY needs to stop buying Amaryllis bulbs!) LOL!

Thanks so much Frank and Maria! I have been going to the same big grocery store for two years in a row. [for the bulbs] They seem true to what they advertize. I sure will try for seeds with this, and also using its pollen on Novella [if it ever opens ha ha ] I used Grand Cru pollen on Vera, but not sure if this would even work, might be a real blech color if they take,time will tell. Happy New Year everyone!!

Wonderful pictures, Beetle!

Mine from Walmart are dark, but the blooms are quite small. One thing that I noticed is that the scapes have a lot of red. I don't remember if they had that much red last year. Maria, does you this year's have reddish scapes?

Ann (who really needs to finish potting up the newly arrived bulbs!) LAS!

My Grand Cru is sleeping in the garage right now. I did not purchase anymore Gran Cru(s). One will be enough for me with this variety. I kinda like Royal Velvet, Miracle and Benfica better. They seem to have better flower form among the dark reds.

Thanks, Maria!

It is always good to compare notes.

My NOT 'Royal Velvet' from two years ago...

Here is a link that might be useful: Not Royal Velvet

This is my first Grand Cru to purchase from Walmart. I don't think I bought one last year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Feb. 2007 WM Grand Cru Blooms

Chiming in a bit late, but Merry Christmas to you, Beetle! Lovely photographs! I do like to see how everyone else displays their plant areas! Nicely done, and very colorful!

I almost grabbed a Grand Cru and a Pink Diamond for myself at Walmart, right before Christmas, but the shopping budget didn't include them this time... we spent the budget on really fun and noisy toys for my three grandbabies! I figure I can stop back in and grab one or two bulbs now that the gift shopping is over. With any luck, they'll still have a few, and may even be on sale!

Frank has the fever! It's ok, Frank... I had it last year. It ran its course, and though I relapsed this year, it wasn't as bad... the budget was low and I have a clearer picture of what I hope to accomplish breeding them, which helps with selection somewhat. Be aware, though... there is no real cure... it can morph into other areas of bulb or plant collecting! We're doomed! :-)

Elizabeth, those are lovely photos! I must add Baby Star to my wish list... it's so adorable!

Thanks for sharing, Beetle! Great photos!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas too! Grandkids are the best!!We had the whole fam damily out on boxing day, and its amazing to see the two littlest walking and talking lol. Great fun!
went ahead and selfed Grand Cru,and if I get lots, any one that wants some? Have a Lovely New Years Eve!!

My grandbabies are 3 years, 2 years, and just turning 1! So, that's one talker, two walkers, and the littlest one is getting ready to walk and talk at the same time! They all require constant chasing, and checking when they're too quiet!

We got them all noisy, active, batteries required type toys for Christmas! We warned the parents when they were younger... we told them to just wait until they had kids! Paybacks are fun when you're grandparents! LOL!

Depending on sale prices, I may get a Grand Cru yet... right now, I don't need another red hybrid... but if the price were right, I'd need more than one! :-)