I live in Central Florida, growing zone 9B which is semi-tropical. Amaryllis is a subtropical bulb that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is native to South Africa. It is grown as a potted plant in most parts of the United States but can also be grown outdoors year round in warm areas like Florida. (The red amaryllis sold in December are FORCED plants.)
Here in central Florida we’re really into hot summer weather by May and June continues it with more rain. Our dry season is winter. The rainy season runs from May 15 to October 15 for Southwest Florida and from May 25 to October 10 for the rest of West Central Florida. My area around the Tampa area is more west central Florida. We had little to no rain late winter into spring. Finally in May we started to have a significant rainfall. June has meant the last week of rain storms late afternoon and early evening as moisture came in from the Gulf of Mexico. The rain has encouraged more flowers to bloom.
First is a little spring plant that produces pretty little white flowers. I don’t know the name of the plant. Twenty years ago my neighbor, Vickie, received some from a neighbor (who also didn’t know the name). Several years ago she planted two in my front flower bed under the bedroom window. They haven’t really grown well this year due to the long time without rain. Then one morning I found several little blooms.
It is located next to the little gardenia bush.
Several newer red amaryllis plants that had never bloomed produced beautiful red flowers. Then my variegated red and white amaryllis that I shared on May 15th developed new buds. I’ve never had this happen before but I love it.
In June first one flower opened and then several days later a second flower opened.
I would be happy if it bloomed all summer, but it’s not supposed to bloom in summer at all. It’s a spring plant. (The red amaryllis sold in December are FORCED plants.) What if your tulips decided to bloom a second time a month after the first blooms? It would be weird but wonderful.
The third surprise is a flower I found on Sunday. I thought my little gardenia bush would have bloomed last month also, but it is a wonderful June surprise to find a lovely flower.
I hope you enjoyed my floral surprises. Wishing you blue skies and flowers wherever you are.
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…it’s fun to have a surprise in the garden.
Oh, gosh! Gardenias were my mom’s favorite (her wedding flowers in Texas) It was always a scramble to find gardenias in December for their anniversary in Wisconsin…sigh. The scent is divine and worthy of nursing that lovely plant. Sweet post, brought back so many memories for me, Sandi
Thank you for the wonderful comment. I remember the first time I was given a gardenia corsage in high school. I fell in love with it.
The red amaryllis is really beautiful.
I love surprises like that too! I’m sure it’s not trillium but yet that white bloom looks much like it!
Trillium looks similar but has less petals and does not grow in zone 9. No one else has made a suggestion but I don’t care. I enjoy the little white flowers whatever they’re called.
Bello jardín. te mando un beso.
We had weeks without rain but over the last week it’s been quite damp which has really helped my garden.
What pretty flowers. I always plant a packet of wild flowers so when my bloom they are always a surprise to me.
I love your garden. You grow beautiful flowers. Thanks for sharing at #aclwcc.
I enjoyed your floral surprises. The red amaryllis is so beautiful.
The white flower looks like some kind of orchid to me. I’ll see if my horticultural boss can identify it. I’ve never grown Amaryllis. Is it easy?
If you live in a warm environment, they are extremely easy to grow outside in the garden. Plant and every spring have beautiful flowers as long as they get water and you let the green leaves lie on the ground the rest of the year. For colder climates, keep as a container plant and bring inside in fall and winter. I’ve never grown them up north but if you protect them from cold it should work. They grow outside in zones 8 to 10. Tropical, semi-tropical and slightly colder.
The first white flower looks so much like trillium but the leaves don’t. Here in New York State, they grow wild (there are also cultivated varieties). Aren’t surprises in the garden wonderful? Alana ramblinwitham
flower surprises are wonderful!
What lovely captures I liked the colours and close ups 🙂
Have a floraltastic week 👍
Such an unusual amaryllis! And I love the gardenia blooms!
Thanks so much for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/07/a-new-recipe-and-healthy-recipe-for.html
I love surprises like that.
You have a beautiful garden, Carol.
Hugs and blessings
Loved the Amaryllis, the fragrance of Gardenia is one of my favorite. Thanks for sharing with Garden affair.
Beautiful flowers with their natural colours