Winter/Holiday Photo Briefs

Amaryllis 'Caprice'Amaryllis 'Caprice' has large blush-pink blooms. Its rounded, velvety petals have substance, which perhaps enhances their endurance. Connecticut-based Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs sells direct to landscape professionals and home gardeners coast to coast with a minimum order of $60. See Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637

Amaryllis 'Dancing Queen'Amaryllis 'Dancing Queen' Those in the know consider easy-to-grow amaryllis bulbs unbeatable winter holiday gifts. Once planted, a large bulb sized 32 centimeters to 34 centimeters in circumference produces two, sometimes three, towering stems. Each stem is topped by four or more enormous flowers. A smart tip for holiday gift-giving: do what gardening aficionados do. If you have a big gift list, consider buying a dozen or more amaryllis bulbs to benefit from quantity pricing. A top source is Connecticut-based Colorblends.com (888-847-8637) which offers large premium amaryllis at wholesale prices. A minimum order is $60.

Amaryllis 'Double Delicious'Amaryllis 'Double Delicious' is a splendid double amaryllis variety with narrow red petals, each highlighted by a slender stripe of white. The layered petals are marked by a lovely sheen. Large amaryllis bulbs for growing indoors in late fall and winter are available from Colorblends.com, a Connecticut-based flower bulb wholesaler that sells direct to home gardeners and landscape professionals with a minimum order of $60. See Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis 'Double Dream'Amaryllis 'Double Dream' is a double amaryllis, with reddish pink blooms marked by white highlights. Premium amaryllis bulbs sized 32 centimeters to 34 centimeters in circumference produce at least two stems per bulb, with each stem typically producing four flowers. For a broad selection of amaryllis and other fall-planted bulbs at wholesale pricing with a minimum order of $60, see Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis 'Flamenco Queen'Amaryllis 'Flamenco Queen' – With big white blooms brushed and stippled with deep red, Amaryllis 'Flamenco Queen' is an especially dramatic bulb flower. "Most people are surprised that it's so easy to pot up an amaryllis bulb to grow flowers like this indoors at home – in winter," says Christian Curless of Colorblends. He advises: choose a big bulb for best show; plant it in a seven- or eight-inch pot with a drainage hole; water well after planting, later only when soil is dry to the touch; allow eight to 12 weeks from potting to bloom. Colorblends is a Connecticut-based flower bulb wholesaler that sells direct to home gardeners nationwide with a minimum order of $60. For Amaryllis 'Flamenco Queen' see Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis 'Marilyn'Amaryllis 'Marilyn' has exceptionally large, double, white flowers The overlapping petals are washed with a pale green that is darker at the heart of the flower and across the petal exteriors. Available from Colorblends, a Connecticut-based flower bulb wholesaler that sells direct to landscape professionals and home gardeners nationwide with a minimum order of $60. See Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis 'Rosalie'Amaryllis 'Rosalie' has graceful, beautifully-formed flowers in rich rosy-pink washed with salmon. The dreamy petal coloring is enhanced by slight markings of white, palest green at the throat and blush pink stamens tipped with yellow. Available from Colorblends, a Connecticut-based flower bulb wholesaler that sells direct to landscape professionals and home gardeners nationwide with a minimum order of $60. See Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis 'Samba'Amaryllis 'Samba' Amaryllis 'Samba' features big red flowers with ruffled petals outlined and accented in white. "Fall is the time to choose and pot up amaryllis bulbs for weeks of indoor growth and bloom this winter," says Christian Curless, horticulturist for Colorblends, a Connecticut-based flower bulb wholesaler that sells direct to home gardeners nationwide with a minimum order of $60. See Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis 'Stardust'Amaryllis 'Stardust' offers a fresh take on red and white, with large white blossoms dusted in brilliant scarlet. The petal edges are more densely outlined in color, an effect called picotee in horticulture. Overall height is 18-22 inches. Amaryllis bulbs are purchased in fall for growing indoors as flamboyant winter houseplants. Connecticut-based Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs sells bulbs direct to landscape professionals and home gardeners coast-to-coast, with a minimum order of $60. See colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis 'Winter Delight'Expect sighs of contentment when Amaryllis 'Winter Delight' blooms in midwinter. Its enormous red-and-white flowers are fully seven inches across! There's a softness to the off-white petals striated in red. Overall height is 18-22 inches. Amaryllis bulbs are purchased in fall for growing indoors as flamboyant winter houseplants. Connecticut-based Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs sells bulbs direct to landscape professionals and home gardeners coast-to-coast, with a minimum order of $60. See colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Amaryllis BulbAmaryllis Bulb – Amaryllis bulbs themselves don’t look like much, but the huge flowers they produce are breathtaking. Once planted, each top-sized bulb produces two, sometimes three, towering stems -- each topped by four or more impressive flowers. Such exquisite flowers may seem daunting to grow, but in fact amaryllis are so easy that even a child can tackle the task successfully. A good source for wholesale prices on top-quality amaryllis bulbs is Colorblends. Connecticut-based Colorblends.com (888-847-8637) offers a selection of amaryllis varieties (sized 32-34cm). Their minimum order is $60.

Colorful Winter BloomsCheerful Amaryllis – Fall is the time to choose amaryllis bulbs to grow in pots on windowsills in winter, says Christian Curless of Colorblends. "One big bulb can grow two to three stems, each topped by four or more flowers," says Curless. Colorblends is a Connecticut-based flower bulb wholesaler that sells direct to landscape professionals and home gardeners across the country with a minimum order of $60. See Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Growing AmaryllisAmaryllis are surprisingly easy to grow, says horticulturist Christian Curless of Colorblends.com. All that’s needed is a bulb, potting soil and a seven- or eight-inch pot with a drainage hole. Pot the bulb with its top third positioned above the soil line. Water well at planting, then water only as needed, when the soil becomes dry to the touch. Allow eight to 12 weeks from planting to bloom. One large bulb produces at least two stems, sometimes three, each bearing four or more velvety flowers. For a broad selection of amaryllis and other fall-planted bulbs at wholesale pricing, with a minimum order of $60, see Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.

Paperwhite Narcissus 'Nir'Paperwhite Narcissus 'Nir' – Here's a tip for winter gardeners who enjoy growing fragrant paperwhite bulbs indoors. Most paperwhite narcissus are strongly scented, but some varieties smell better than others. The standard variety 'Ziva' is powerfully fragrant with a heavy sweetness that pleases many but turns off others. For a different paperwhite scent experience, Colorblends suggests 'Nir', a newer variety. Its perfume is rich but not overpowering. Other 'Nir' benefits include larger, showier white flowers and shorter stems that are less likely to flop over. For paperwhites and other fall-planted bulbs at wholesale pricing, with a minimum order of $60, see Colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.