15_the_circle | amaryllis fever

[OT from cottage renovations]

for the most part this amaryllis lives in a pot on the kitchen counter. plenty of sunlight comes streaming through a S facing window, there's a plant light 24/7 and it even gets watered when I remember. sometimes as a special treat it gets set out in a gentle rain if one is available.

for several weeks it has been obvious that some major bloomage has been in the works. the central stalk grew like that of Jack's bean, and the swelling at the tip shape-shifted into a large bud.

for several days the plant has been trying to force that bud open. clearly this was consuming a great deal of energy. unlike the celebrity couple who have swaddled their newborn in pseudoscience this week I felt no need to maintain a strict silence in its presence, nor did I announce to the press any plans to eat its placenta.

the bloom was unfurled yesterday. what's not to like about an amaryllis? it provides such a lush visual indulgence ...

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

today it got moved out to the front porch: anything with bright red blooms this time of year is assigned to the task of attracting hummingbirds. it's not a punishment detail, but nobody is excused from it.

the canonical frontal view

curves, texture, light

the view from below

shadow