For most weeks of the year, there is almost always a situation where it would be nice to send or give a little gift of some sort. A birthday, an anniversary, a friend at work celebrating a promotion, a thank you for a meal or gesture of a friend, a sick relative in hospital, a neighbor, etc. And it isn’t necessarily about the amount you spend, but the thought and care and uniqueness of the present that speaks most about you. When I used to work in a Manila office nearly 20 years ago, folks would often hit the “doodad’ shops and send a card or a stuffed animal or some little desk thingee and even then, spending PHP50-100 was not unusual. Worse, if you are courting someone, the flowers from a florist were outrageously expensive. My first go to gift of this sort is homemade food… some cookies, a jam, ensaimada, cupcakes, etc. But if I don’t have the time for that or nothing good in stock, I turn to plants and flowers. And here, some potted amaryllis almost always pleases and it doesn’t break the bank…
At plant shows, weekend markets, nurseries, etc. you can sometimes find these potted amaryllis, here sold in nice sturdy ceramic pots, and I paid just PHP120 each for them. Just cover the bulb and soil with some damp moss (PHP20 for a large bag that could cover 8 pots or more), change the sticks and ties with something more natural like raffia and add a ribbon and for PHP140 maximum, you have a wonderful gift. And it will last at least a week. Less calories and cheaper than a small box of candy or chocolate, natural, locally raised and higher value added, and totally biodegradable. Give three pots because you are feeling flush and they will terrific on a side table or even one’s dining table, for just PHP400 or so.
They come in a range of colors from white to pink to red. The more recent the bulbs have arrived from the source in holland, the larger the blooms. And eventually, we have some nearly totally native/localized versions that seem to have smaller but not less spectacular blooms. I have done posts on amaryllis before, here and here if you are interested.
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I like the red ones only. The other color does not talk to me and I cannot keep them near my workstation as the bloom ejects scent that really bothers me. You can keep them in a basket propped with some floral foam in a group of 5 or 6 and cover the top with moss just an idea only. They are perennial.
this is outside the topic, but here goes…
a friend of mine spotted you guys at Bar21 in Bacolod… you with Gaita Fores of Pepato! WAHOOO! Marketman is in BACOLOD!…. i just wished there was a meet the blogger day but i don’t know… suffice to say is that we’ll probably hear more from you chowing down Negrense fares….
cheers!
am drooling over the thought of diwal…
Great idea Marketman!! I should keep this in mind when giving gifts to friends who have almost everything. Great conversation piece at that….
marketman,
I still have the amaryllis i bought from Holland in 1995, from it i was able to grow about a dozen more bulbs. Your right in your previous blog about flowering them, I keep them in the refs vegetable tray for about 3 months. Make sure that the bulbs are fully covered/wrapped with newspaper(no lights should penetrate the bulbs, total darkness). I normally take out and plant them about 4 weeks before I want them to be fully bloom. My success rate of flowering them is about 3 out of 4.
cute
Wonderful idea! Love those doors in the background, too :)
Our local Smith & Hawken had the kit on sale for $3.99 a month ago. I thought that was a bargain, I don’t think you could even get just the pot for that price in that store, and this kit came with the amryllis bulb, coco fiber and the ceramic planter. I bought a few, the flowers of course have all wilted, but the plants still have a good foliage and with luck if I follow the instructions carefully, I’ll have the bulbs ready for repotting next winter.
where’s that doodad’ shops ? tnx