Plans to Grow My Apple Blossom Amaryllis in the Ground

I was happy to receive an Apple Blossom Amaryllis as a Mother's Day gift. It came in a wooden box, and the tips of two bulbs were just visible above the surface. It has grown quickly and is now in full bloom.May 10
June 4

June 7

June 8

June 13: Now it is in full bloom, and see, two more bud are coming up!

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) will grow outdoors in zones 7b - 10, and my only other amaryllis has reappeared and bloomed each year since I put it in the ground. I am very fortunate, because it is much easier for me to grow amaryllis in the ground than to remember all requirements necessary to get it to bloom again indoors. So Apple Blossom will go into the ground, too.

I have moved my amaryllis indoors to preserve the longevity of the blooms. Once blooming is finished, my plan is to put the amaryllis outside in bright light, then gradually move it to a permanent location in a sunny spot that receives some afternoon shade. I will plant it in well drained garden soil that is high in organic matter. Bone meal is an excellent organic source of phosphorus, which stimulates root growth and flowering, so I will mix bone meal into the soil before planting. I will cut the faded blooms off but leave the stalks until they have turned yellow, because the plant must store nutrients in the stalk in order to bloom next year. I will fertilize it monthly through the summer with an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion. Mulching is beneficial, especially during fall and winter. Next year when new growth begins, I will begin fertilization again by working bone meal into the soil around the plant and resuming fertilization with fish emulsion.

Then, hopefully, next year I will be again be blessed with these fabulous blooms!

For an update on how the Appleblossom Amaryllis did once I planted it in the ground see this May, 2017 post: Apple Blossom Amaryllis Update 

June Walk

Summertime is here, hot and humid but not yet fierce, delightful and sticky as honey on the tongue.The old Southern Magnolia across from the house is blooming, its large fragrant flowers a testament to summer in the Deep South.I had my first watermelon of the year last week, along with hot dogs and hamburgers fresh from the grill. This is the season to sit on the patio in the cool of the day, until the sun sets and mosquitos begin to bite. Mosquitos generally leave me alone, while Lou is much sweeter and the bugs zero in on him. Late afternoon is also the perfect time to take a walk through the June garden.Here is the view from the patio, looking through the arch toward the front garden.I am happy to have a red banana, Ensete maurelii, growing again beside the patio.The pink flowering shrub beside the red banana is 'Anthony Waterer' spirea.This wonderful plant is one of my favorites for foliage. While it may survive a mild winter, it is not really hardy here. I learned the hard way, so it is in a large pot, which will be hauled inside when frost arrives.

From the patio one also has a view of the arbor garden:

Steps, which are bordered with an assortment of shrubs and flowers, lead from the patio to the arbor garden. Look closely through the foliage in this picture and you can see the steps:

Leaving the patio and the view of the arbor garden, lets walk under the arch and take a turn in front of the house. This will bring us to the parking court and various views around the front lawn. Green is the predominant color of summer. Because of our big windows, even the inside of the house takes on a verdant tint this time of year.

The combination of Calibrachoa and Tropicana Canna Lily will provide a shimmer of color in front of the house throughout the season.

A closer look at Calibrachoa; these look like small petunias but have a tidier habit.

Tropicana Canna Lily has spectacular leaves. It has proved to be reliably hardy in my zone 7b/8a climate.The Tropicana Canna Lily grows beside this birdbath. Behind the birdbath is Nandina 'Firepower,' a noninvasive nandina that does not produce flowers or berries. Beyond here is a parking area that is bordered by shrubs and flowers, part of the large front garden that wraps around the lawn.

Walking through the garden, one sees an assortment of flowers blooming in June, including this purple petunia:

Stella de Oro Daylily:

and more:Clockwise from top left: Rosa mutabilis; Sedum; 'Tutti Frutti' butterfly bush; Zantedeschia; Nasturtium; Fuchsia; Black-eyed Susan; Gardenia.

No walk is complete without a stroll through the woodland garden. In late afternoon it transforms into a green cathedral with windows of silver and gold.

 

Snowflake hydrangea

I hope you enjoyed the walk! Have a great week,  Deb 

You may also be interested in these posts:  Summer Proof the Garden and Summer is Here!