Amaryllis Time

Red, white, pink, striped, single, double, picotee.

The choices abound. Whether you get a very pricey but high-quality amaryllis bulb from
White Flower Farm in Connecticut or the Smith & Hawken store in Westfield, or just a cheap kit from the local Drug Fair, try growing one of these plants to dispel the winter blues.

When I was a child taking violin lessons in East Orange, I only knew "Amaryllis" as a rather insipid melody to pluck out on the strings. Little did I know what the word meant in the plant world!

Give or get some amaryllis bulbs and spread the joy. The transformation from a big green bulb to a magnificent flower is mind-boggling. The power of nature is seldom more eloquently displayed.

--Bernice Paglia