I knew that it would be unlikely that I would get a large bouquet of my favourite red Amaryllis this year, because I did not ask, mindful of the expense. Usually I would request a festive red and white bouquet for Christmas, preferably three or five deep wine red, velvety opulent Amaryllis, combined with some cream roses and some dark evergreen foliage. Instead I delved into my garden, which is full of unseasonably late flowers, due to the mild weather.
I still had several tall and eye-catching red Pineapple Sage , which I chopped off and brought indoors knowing that a further frost would surely kill them. I was amazed that they had survived the frost of a few nights before, which had been quite a Jack Frost nip. The Winter Sweet, chimonanthus praecox, is covered in its pale yellow stars of heavenly hyacinth-scented lovliness, so a stem of that was added to the collection. Next, a couple of pink-stemmed Cornus, then some variegated Ivy , with dark berries, followed by a generous sprig of Myrtle which is covered in tiny snow-ball flower buds. I could have taken the last geranium "Rozanne" flower, a single bright blue disc down low, but did not have the heart to deprive the late bees of such a treat. The finale was a a stem of bright magenta Bouganvillea..a bit of a cheat as it is in my conservatory, but it looks amazingly luscious combined with the reds and provides a gorgeous focal point to the bouquet.
Looking at this vase full of home-grown treasures, and smelling the mixture of herby/spicy scents, fills me with a gladness that is much more satisfying than the florist-bought flowers. I grew these, in my garden..and the late-flying insects can still benefit from the generous blooms outside, until Jack Frost comes a-nipping again.
