Lovely flowers, I particularly like your Minerva type they look so beautiful in large groups growing in the ground!!

As for the white and yellow stamens could it be that the white ones hadn't quite opened yet to reveal the yellow pollen inside? Most stamens are whitish and then sort of turn inside out to reveal the yellowish pollen inside. They then end up half the size of when they are white and unopened.

Donna

Thanks for a name for my red/white variety. It was given to me as "Starburst," but I looked up that one and it's not the same. Minerva seems to have a different shaped petal, but that's the closest I've gotten. I really love it.

Also, thanks for the info about the stamens. I've never paid much attention to them, but these made such a nice contrast to the dark red petals.

Beautiful. but then dirtygardener I think you could plant a popsicle stick and it would

grow and have blossoms. sigh.

I dug and transplanted a couple dozen amaryllis bulbs last year. They were planted

in a hot, dry, scorched area in construction soil up next to my house. They're

doing OK but not great. I put them partly under an oak but they get all morning sun.

I just fed them cause it's due to rain here. I think they may need more water since

I rarely sprinkle them. Any suggestions to help them along? I have no idea what

kind or color they are as they barely survived and never bloomed where they

were til last year. I'm open to all ideas to make them look like those above.

mr1010 - LOL at the popsicle stick comment. You have no idea how many plants I've killed. I tell people I learned everything I know about plants by killing them. I just take good pictures of the pretty ones. Trust me, my yard is not all that pretty.

As for amaryllis, they need something more than construction soil to thrive. I'd suggest you put them in containers, then start amending that soil with leaves or other organic matter for awhile before replanting them. They'll do o.k. in our native sand, but construction soil is mostly marl, if you're talking about the soil they use to build up lots. That's not very good for growing anything.

I've been piling up leaves on my beds for 4 years, which is why things grow well in them. Mine are fed mostly by earthworms. I did fertilize them when I first got here, because it was pure sand, but now if I fertilize them, everything grows out of control, so I just put a little fertilizer on the newer beds that don't have as many earthworms, and on a few plants that need more than others, like the Brugmansias.

I have a few plants that I grew from seed that have been nothing but leaf texture for years. My African Iris are just starting to bloom this year, as are the walking iris babies I planted a few years back. My agapanthus still hasn't bloomed, so I'm going to move it this year. I have a piece of variegated flax plant that hasn't grown in 4 years. So I'm definitely not perfect at getting things to grow and bloom, although I never stop trying.

Thanks dirtyg., the soil and location should be pretty good where they are now. But

I did separate the bulbs when I planted them last year so it may take a while for them

to take off. There are loads of oak leaves around them and in the soil there too.

I'm gonna give them a little more attention this year, like water when it hot and dry.

My property was an old orange grove, pure sand and probably poisoned with

all the sprays and insecticides used on it for many years. Of all my many homes

in Fl., gardening here is way more difficult with this crap soil. Water drains instantly

and many plants can't live like that. Fortunately I have lots of horse manure and

composted manure that I use to build the soil.

I just keep propagating the things that will tolerate these conditions.