Don't get me wrong... I like the idea that amaryllis bulbs are being made available for spring planting in our northern gardens... but I do wish the companies that package these bulbs would make it a lot more clear on the packaging that these are tender bulbs requiring digging in the fall before frost hits! The general public only see these bulbs at Christmastime, and they might not be aware that the garden amaryllis are the same things... without explicit warnings on the packaging, I think the general public will be disappointed that their garden amaryllis didn't make it through the winter, and the retail business of selling garden amaryllis will be short-lived. It's a shame, really... with the proper instructions in large lettering on the back of the packages, garden amaryllis could enjoy the same popularity that cannas or glads or dahlias enjoy... I'd certainly be willing to dig and store a few bulbs to enjoy these beauties in my garden! I didn't check the sizes of the bulbs in the package I looked at... but just by the amount the label said the box contained, I'd say they were rather small. If they were Sonatinis, then most were probably large enough to flower this season. I may go back and get a package... and treat them like my canna tubers... lifting them for winter storage! You're so lucky, Elizabeth, to be able to plant them in your garden and leave them to grow and bloom... and you're very lucky to have had a color choice! The ones I saw were all the same... looking very much like small Minerva-style flowers.

Hi Joey, Yes, we were all pretty excited about Pixie and most of us ordered a couple and all turned out to be a small white or something similar (I forget the name) not a one of us ever saw a Pixie. It seems to have fallen through the cracks..... Poor Living Gardens, they were sent so many incorrect bulbs over the years and were very good about doing right by us all, that this year they are no longer selling hippeastrum bulbs. (are they still in business?) One year we thought we were ordering Ruby Meyer and we all got Quito, not bad but not Ruby Meyer and last year there was the Thai Thai debacle, with only a few of us lucky ones winning the lottery!! There were other mislabels also so it is any wonder they gave up the ghost!! Donna

The main reason I lean towards tetraploid is the future hippeastrelia, it's the end goal and why I'm avoiding red as I'll have more than enough of it later. From the various mentions of hippeastrelia I've only seen one via a diploid (using papillo) and the result was apparently sterile. When you look at other intergeneric crosses with sprekelia with diploid (like Habranthus Robustus) the result is also reportedly sterile. I also haven't found any of Dr Dave Lehmiller multigeneric hybrids (involving hippeastrum, sprekelia, zephyranthes) to go a generation further past the inclusion of zephyranthes (presumably diploid). So it doesn't fill me with confidence that it won't be a dead end or at best, a very very very difficult path on an already difficult path. If there's any counter information that demonstrates this isn't the case I'd be highly interested. I know Hans (haweha) crossed diploid/tetra hippeastrum (papillo x Donau) which behaved like tets sooooo it may still be a path, just more as a plan B. -edit- Just got the info. Thank you. Jewel is a dip...who'd have thought.

Thanks, Irricca. Lots of trial and error. I think chalk painting your end tables white is a great idea, they kind of disappear against the dark couches. Also, I like the neutral palette, don't feel the need to add bright colors if you're going for more of a rustic, neutral look. I like the rug in your first image better than the second one. Also, consider a tall plant behind the recliner, it will add a little more height to the space to fill in the "blank" spots. Something like the one in your 6th photo down from your inspiration screenshots. I really like what you've done on your walls and wouldn't mess with that. You and I have very similar inspiration picks - the ones you posted are also on my Pinterest boards ;)