I'm cheating a bit this week because there's no new vase, although last week's is still going strong and, yes, the buds of the Sarcococca did open to release their heady perfume. Instead, as apart from evergreens and a few berries on the cotoneaster and skimmia, there's little of colour in the garden to pick I'm sharing my potted Amaryllis, Hippeastrum.
Every year, just before Christmas, my husband presents me with a bulb which I duly plant up and we wait in eager anticipation to see what colour it's going to be. In the past they have all been bright red but this year's is the softest peach and white - a lovely surprise.
Close up it's a beauty. Apart from how striking it is I have another reason for my enjoyment of my Amaryllis, and that's in its name. It reminds me of a much loved character, Marilla, from one of my favourite childhood reads, Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery. Not exactly the same word but near enough to bring to mind a formidable lady who mellowed towards the orphaned Anne over time. And just to prove I'm not completely daft, Wikipedia informs me that Marilla is a shortened form of Amaryllis.and means Shining Sea!
If you want to see more cheering arrangements why not pop over to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden where others are sure to be sharing what's in their vases (or pots) today.
