One of my seasonal traditions is to plant a few bulbs to spark up our deepest winter, short-light days. Visually and odorously.
Today, however tardily, is bulb-planting day, 2010.
Inspired by my friend, Dr. J, I got an amaryllis* this year (the huge bulb to the right), to enjoy along with my usual—paperwhites.
Keep your fingers crossed….
* This is interesting. I googled amaryllis to find out whatever WikiPee would tell me and found out that what I planted was NOT an amaryllis, botanically, although it is commonly called an amaryllis. Instead it’s a different genus, Hippeastrum in the same family (Amaryllidaceae), which sent me back to the packaging for the bulb I bought. Aha. Both words are used, but amaryllis is given prominence. Live and learn.
14 December 2010 at 1:05 pm
Robert & Mary Jo says:
Perhaps you mean ‘visually and fragrantly’ rather than ‘odorously’ which I think conveys smelly rather than perfumy! But I guess it depends on your sense of smell.
14 December 2010 at 1:39 pm
Sammy says:
Ya know, I was casting about for the word for that spot, and my dictionary-digging suggested that odorously is not the same as odoriferously. The latter is malodorous, while the former means merely having scent. Or that’s what MY dictionary said. Live and learn, however! Thanks….
15 December 2010 at 9:30 am
kayak woman says:
I think that the word “odorous” sounds close enough to “odoriferous” that it makes you think “smelly” rather than “perfumy”.
But then, I always thought that “odoriferous” was “odiferous” (Mr. Rank and Mr. Odiferous used to use our shower sometimes). Then *again*, according to The Google, “odiferous” is a short form of “odoriferous”.
Okay, I guess I have typed those words enough times. Better get back to typing things like “File options” and “File delivery schedule” et al, and earn my keep.
Was intrigued with some paper whites and amaryllis bulbs at Downtown Home & Garden last weekend but there’s always that old black thumb issue.
15 December 2010 at 9:59 am
Sammy says:
The winter-bulbs-indoors thing is easy, just add water now & then. Truly. And after the blooming is over, and spring has arrived outdoors, you can stick the bulbs in the ground for next year (around here; in the Midwest, you might have to plant them when the frost is off the ground in the spring, and not before, to prevent freezing).