The Amaryllis Family

FICTION - My Books and Music

Once upon a time in a bustling town nestled at the foot of a majestic mountain, there lived the Amaryllis family, named after the exquisite flowers they cultivated and sold. The Amaryllis family had been renowned for generations for their skill in growing the most vibrant and enchanting amaryllis blooms that adorned the town with their beauty.

For generations they had sold or traded a variety of farm goods. The exquisite amaryllis flowers bloomed in the spring. Over generations of growing under different conditions and crossbreeding varieties they were able to supply a consistent flow of beautiful bouquets throughout the spring. The wisdom and experience of growing the unique amaryllis plants for generations had really become an art. Other growers would come from far and wide to discuss the growing techniques with the elder members of the Amaryllis clan. They were always more than happy to share their growing experiences and methods.

On a particularly sunny spring day, the youngest daughter of the Amaryllis family, Lily, was helping her mother at their flower stall in the town square. Lily loved flowers and really felt like they were part of her family. She often carried on conversations with the different varieties. When her Mother put a bouquet together for a customer, Lily would often say to the customer, “Please take good care of my friends. Remember, they are always smiling at you!”

As the two of them arranged the colorful blossoms in delicate bouquets, the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of the flowers, enchanting all who passed by. Sales went very well and both of them were getting tired.

It was getting late and they were cleaning up to go home. The crowds had thinned out. Suddenly, a commotion erupted nearby as two men engaged in a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical altercation. In the chaos, one of the men stumbled and crashed into Lily, knocking her down along with the carefully arranged flowers, scattering them in disarray. Lily wasn’t hurt and quickly ran over towards her mother.

Filled with a mother's protective instinct and a touch of anger, Lily's mother swiftly grabbed a vase of blooming amaryllis and hurled it at the man who had caused the disturbance. The vase shattered against the ground, its shards glistening in the sunlight as the crowd rushed in to break up the fight.

As the onlookers held the two men back, their tempers still flaring, young Lily stood by her mother's side amidst the chaos. With tears in her eyes and a quivering voice, she cried out, "Stop, stop fighting! You hurt my flowers!"

The unexpected innocence and sincerity in Lily's voice cut through the tension like a knife, causing the crowd to erupt into laughter. The two men, caught off guard by the young girl's words, exchanged a sheepish glance before the crowd pointed accusing fingers at them, demanding that they compensate for the damage done to the flowers. The anger stopped and the tension felt in the air subsided.

Reluctantly, the two men reached into their pockets and paid for the ruined flowers, their pride humbled by the innocence and purity of a child's heart. The crowd laughed even more as Liky held the money and smiled at the two men who were forced by her inocense to smile back.

From that day onward, a sense of peace and joy seemed to envelop the Amaryllis Flower Stand, as if the spirits of the flowers themselves had brought harmony to the town. Lily had affected the karma of the whole town knowingly or unknowingly because after the story spread like wild flowers throughout the town and beyond.

For the next 500 years, the Amaryllis family continued to grow their beautiful blooms. Generations had come and gone. Their flower stall becoming not just a place to buy flowers but a symbol of unity and tranquility in the town. It still exists in small towns throughout the world. And so, the legend of the Amaryllis family and their magical flowers lives on, a testament to the power of innocence and the beauty of nature. The “Lily” in all of us is the ability to bring peace to even the most tumultuous of times. Remember the flowers.

Non-Fiction

Amaryllis is a popular flowering plant known for its large, showy blooms. There are many different varieties of amaryllis. Each variety has its own unique characteristics. There are small blooms, large blooms, and spectacular spidery type blooms. Here are some of the more well-known varieties of amaryllis you can find at most flower shops. Nowadays they are grown year round in greenhouses.

Red Lion - A classic variety with large, bright red flowers. One of the most popular varieties because of the large flower.

Apple Blossom - This variety features soft pink flowers with white streaks.

Minerva - Known for its striking red and white striped flowers. Similar to the Apple Blossom but red instead of pink.

Double Dream - A variety with double flowers in shades of pink and white.

Aphrodite - This variety produces deep pink flowers with white centers. It is very popular for weddings.

Black Pearl - A unique variety with dark red, nearly black flowers. These flowers are sometimes hard to find because they sell out quickly in most flower shops.

Lemon Lime - A variety with pale yellow flowers tinged with green. One of the few fliwers in nature with green tints.

Orange Souvereign - This variety features very bright orange flowers.

White Christmas - A variety with pure white flowers. Very popular in the holiday season.

Dancing Queen - A variety with frilly, double flowers in shades of pink and white. This is one of the “spidery” varieties of which there are many.

These are just a few examples of the many beautiful varieties of amaryllis available to gardeners, flower enthusiasts, and others. More rare varieties are available for growers online.