thankyou all for your advice. these bulbs probably fronted the back portion of this hedge since there's a border edging in front of them. But forsythia arches and the stems readily root so I think that's why the hyacinth appear to be amidst the hedge. I think while they have plenty of blooming time sun and very healthy looking leaf growth and leaf covering from overhead trees, they probably are a bit too low in the ground so I will lift them this fall, bring them forward to a better area and set higher in the ground. I presume if the leaves are full height and no evidence of a flower stalk coming then nothing I do now will bring forth a bloom this year. Next fall project. Thanks again.

Thanks for the nice words. At some point I would like to buy a nice camera with macro lenses, etc to take pics like I used to when I had an SLR of the film variety, but for now I use my daughters old point-and-shoot which is a big step up from mine that is for sure! I keep thinking one of the new micro 4/3 since they have interchangeable lenses, but that would be a hassle when you are traveling and it is hard to justify 2 cameras I suppose. I am just a hobbyist like most of the rest on GW. Someday I will have a Greenhouse, but not while I have kids in college for the next 7 years that is for sure. I have loved plants/animals since I was very little and got in to classes over the summer 2 years before I was supposed to be allowed to take them because of my interest. We used to collect caterpillars, snakes, turtles, etc. and feed them for the summer before letting them go. I had my first bonsai that my dad got me when I was around 10 (long since gone) and planted/tended the family garden around that same age just because I enjoyed doing it and being outside. In other words; total nerd! Some of my bulbs I get from friends in trade, but the majority are from importing, which I have been doing for a decade now, as that is the easiest way to get large bulbs of unusual species. I typically organize buys from places like South Africa for a group of like-minded people as that way we defray the costs and everyone gets something different. I just put in a group order for some rare Haemanthus, Gethyllis, Crinum, Strumaria, Massonia, Boophane, etc. so hopefully they will arrive before we get too cold. Anyway, that is my story :o) Dan

Thanks Everyone! Kristi, I'll tell my husband you like his decks..he built them from the ground up... Thanks Xuan, your pictures are always lovely..and I always enjoy seeing them. Retsec.. I'll have some selfed Charisma in a month or so and you are more than welcome to some..I don't need anything in trade, I'm overwhelmed with my own seeds and bulbs..but always happy to find homes for extra seeds. I should have many Charisma seeds this year as I just removed the pollen and inadvertently selfed most of 10 flowers in the process..will only let half grow on, but there should be tons...The season has just started for me as I have many dozens of bulbs that will be blooming all winter into the spring..so..I'll have lots of seeds to share with anyone who wants some... Istropic.. 3 years ago I bought a Samba from White Flower Farm and they were out of one of the other varities I had ordered.. so.. without asking they send me 2 Sambas. I gave one to my father and his..without a doubt..was better than mine..this particular one above has bloomed 3 times with 2 stalks with 4 flowers..each and every flower is perfectly beautiful..his neighbors see it and are astounded and wonder what in the world it is!!The other Samba that I kept is fine, but I don't think the flowers open up quite as nicely as the one I gave away....Samba also makes monsterous seeds, I only kept about 5 from last year and they are extremely vigirous.. I should have brought some pollen over to my dad's and pollenated his..I think it's too late now.. I have a President Johnson about to open and I actually think this one will have a noticeable picotee..and reblooming Jewel on the way... Thanks, Donna

Hi, I purchased an Amaryllis back in December of 2011. It bloomed beautifully as you can see in the next picture. Since then I've never been lucky enough to have it bloom again. That's over 2 years without blooms. It always has leaves on it. I never fertilized it and just kept watering it. It lived on the sill of a south facing window. I never knew if it had gone dormant, which I doubt, because it always had green leaves on it. I never took it out of the pot nor did I place it in a cool dark basement. Last August, I moved from New York City where I lived and purchased the plant. I cut off the leaves and pulled the bulb off the pot and packed it in a plastic bag. I now live in Panama City, Panama in Central America. It is hot and humid here most of the year. The night time temperature does not go below 72 here in the city. I planted the bulb after it spent about 4 months in a plastic bag. It has tons of leaves now as you can see in the next picture. I noticed that the leaves are not as firm looking and green as they were a couple of months ago. Does that mean that they are going to turn brown and fall off? I don't see any new leaves sprouting out. It's never had 7 on it at the same time either. I just started fertilizing it in the last two weeks with miracle gro all purpose plant food 24-8-16. I am watering it every other day very lightly, trying to keep it moist and not wet. It's in a balcony so it doesn't get rained on. Keeping in mind that I now live in the tropics where the temperature is high all the time. My questions are: 1. Do I need to force it into dormancy? How is that done? 2. What can be done to make it bloom again? 3. I've read elsewhere that people put the whole pot with the bulb inside their refrigerator. If I choose to do this, when should I do it and what is exactly the procedure to follow? Do I cut off all leaves or wait for them to drop naturally? Do I make a straight cut across to have a cleancut? how far down? Can I put it inside a plastic bag before I place it in the fridge? How long should I keep it there? and what do I do when I bring it out? Bottom line, will it ever bloom again? Thanks