I have a row of amarillis's that bloom around Easter time, with big bright red blossoms. Most of my plants have been in the ground 15 years. This year they have produced 2 stalks of white flowers, very pretty, but I've never had them do this before. Does anyone know why they are doing this? Is this a different seed pod that usually follows the flower decline?

Gail, those are beautiful!

They look like white spider lilies, though. I'll try to google and see if I can find a picture.

I love amaryllis, and that's a good idea for something to plant that I'm familiar with, that will grow here. I miss all my AL plants, particularly the bulbs like the tulips, iris, glads and lilies.

Hey, I was right, found this fairly easily....

http://tropicalplant.air-nifty.com/top/images/hymenocallis_speciosa1s2.jpg

Absolutely gorgeous!

Now, question is....how did that sneak into your garden? lol

Oh my gosh - that is so what is happening here. Actually, about 2 years ago a coworker and I traded off some of my amarillis and her peach colored day lilies, which I planted amongst my red amarillis.... then this year I got this new lily.... so I now have amarillis, peach day lilies, and white spider lilies inter-twined. Cool. I need to thin them out - if I can think of a way to send some to you, I will. Only problem - all of the green bases look the same - so who knows what I'd be sending!

A surprise pack! lol

I can trade you a Praying Hands Banana tree if you want. Those little babies I planted in May are over my head and gorgeous now, with 2 babies I've got to pull up and give to someone. A girl at work wants one, so there's one not spoken for it you want it. They're a very unique vanilla banana.

I usually grow amaryllis inside for the holiday season, and narcissus (paperwhites). I'm starting to feel plant happy.

Oh my - the amarillis do just fine outside in the landscape. Ours are somewhat sheltered by the pool screen, but are still exposed to the weather. The day lilies do well, easter lilies do well, but after about 2 weeks they are gone..... all in spring. Then we have nothing but green stalks the rest of the year. That's why I was so surprised at these new white flowers in the fall. I'll have to research them them a bit.....!

My amaryllis are inside too. I never tried to put them outside, but now I am tempted to try. Gail, those white flowers are beautiful. I wonder if the bees just did some pollination between you and a neighbor? It's a gift for you for providing them with flowers.

Well, somehow they got here! Could be a bird dropped a few seed pods and a couple took hold. It's nice to have a fall bloomer mixed in the the spring bloomers!

But all of the stalks/leaves look the same! If I pull any, I won't know which I'm pulling! It would be "surprise"!

Wish I lived in a climate where I could grow Amarylis outside. Of course, then I wouldn't get to enjoy all the spring bulbs. It's always something. I love the spider lily. They're such exotic alien looking flowers. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

That is an interesting lilly --- I'll have to look for some to see if they work in our climate.
Nice photos Gail!

Gail, if you don't want the banana, someone else does. lol Speak now or forever (or at least until there are more babies) hold your peace!

All of you that live in a 4 season climate, make the most of it. I swear....grow an amaryllis (or two) and some narcissus in your house over the holidays. Wonderful that they will thrive outside here and I WILL try it, but inside is just...a tradition to me. Narcissus is such a heavenly smell it makes your nostrils quiver. I swear. My perfume is narcissus based, and that's the effect it has always had on me. ;) Now I'm missing jonquils and all that. My bulbs were the only thing that saved me from the winter doldrums when they awakened in February. I think I'll continue my "inside" traditions, maybe even force bloom some tulips. If I can get them here!

Plant happy, yes indeed. Thanks Gail. I want some spider lilies. Used to be able to go to Lowe's or Home Depot in AL in the fall, and all the bulbs would entrance me. I wonder if they do that....load up with bulbs....here.

Don't get me wrong, I love my palms and tropicals, but I'm just not a master of them yet. I was quite the gardener in AL. I will be again, soon as I understand the soil and seasons, I think.

Thanks Kathy, but I do think banana's do better just that little bit further south. My neighbor's die back whenever we have a freeze.

I'll still keep you in mind when I thin these out!

OK Gail, gotcha. This is my first banana experiment, so we'll see how it goes. I ordered this banana tree because it is extra hardy in cold weather and because of the look of the tree (it's gorgeous) and the tastiness of the banana. I just moved to FL and it seemed perfectly exotic, like I wanted. FL and all these tropicals are still exotic to me, a transplant.

Boom, looks like you get a banana! lol

Yeah!! Kathy - ygm