A picture might help with the identification of these plants. The description is a bit too broad to be of much real help.

Could they have been amaryllis? My neighbor brought some out today, and they looked just like you described...

You probably are right...when I try to remember what amaryllis look like, I bet that's what they are. Anyway, here's a pic of the poor unwanted things. Well, they were unwanted until I rescued them!

Here is a link that might be useful: Emily's Garden page

I agree, that does look like an amaryllis. And as for 'why' they were thrown out: the pot may have broken and the owner didn't want to be bothered replacing it. Or, more likely, many folks don't want to take the time to learn how to care for a plant, so if one is given to them -- they keep it until the bloom is finished and then -zap- into the trashcan.

Sometimes people just get tired of fussing with containers, bulbs. You might ask on the bulb forum about what to do with it. Lucky find.

Mrs. Emily they are hardy in the ground where I live with mulch and should be for you. They bloom in April or early May. Mine are in part sun under a crepe myrtle on a western exposure and have returned for five years. They like rich moist but not soggy soil and a lot of water. Make sure the neck of the bulb is planted above soil level -they will rot if placed under soil level or under too much mulch. They need an inch or so of mulch. They may lose their leaves in the winter depending on the cold but have returned when it warms up.