Story Challenge letter A – for Amaryllis

http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/story-challenge-letter-a/

The end of A-Z Archive photos  beginning of  Story Challenge Using the alphabet. The first  letter in the alphabet is

A

for

AMARYLLIS

Amaryllis (pronounced /ˌæməˈrɪlɨs/^[1]) is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape. For many years there was confusion amongst botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name “amaryllis” is mainly used for cultivars of the genus Hippeastrum, widely sold in the winter months for their ability to bloom indoors. Plants of the genusAmaryllis belladonna are known as belladonna lily, naked lady, amarillo or, in South Africa, March lily.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllis

Here is a photo taken  in 2007 of a Amaryllis or the South African Belladonna Lily.

They are so beautiful it takes your breath away.

They grew in my next door neighbors garden.

They start out with only the flowers.

We also have the well-known Amaryllis Lilly that you can put indoors in a pot.

In South Africa they grow and bloom outside.

They need protection against frost but that is all.

Here are some flowers in my sisters garden in Naboomspruit SA.

Not photo challenge but Story Challenge

Enjoy!