Old Faithful

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Some years ago my Mum bought me an Amaryllis bulb (now known as Hippeastrum). She had found it in the reduced basket and thought I might be able to give it a chance. Well I put it in a pot of compost and sure enough, it grew well and flowered. I can’t remember exactly when that was, whether or not it was before Big One was born, but I know we have a series of photos of her standing beside the flower (which was then taller than she was) because it used to flower just around her birthday. Big One is now an adult, and the flowering time has gradually shifted little by little until it now flowers a month or two earlier, but the plant is now a clump and this year it produced five flowering stems, each with four striking flowers. I wonder how many people buy one of these bulbs, maybe as a gift, and they get thrown out after they have flowered the first time? All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2025.