Amaryllis Flower or "Horseman's Star"

Amaryllis Flower

Throughout the time we had the garden center, we always sold Amaryllis bulbs. Amaryllis bulbs, when potted in the fall or early winter, will produce spectacular blooms. This year, my mom asked me to buy one for her to give away. When I got to the store they were 3 for something. And since they come in a variety of colours, I bought 3. One for my mom, one we gave away, and one I potted up and grew. Or rather, I watered it and it grew. Bulbs contain all they already need. Just light and water.

So finally after a couple of months, the buds started to show colour. Now they are out in almost full bloom.

btw, Amaryllis is not the true name. They should be called Hippeastrum.
But the real name and what people are familiar with are often two different things.

So for now, we'll enjoy the blooms. After, we'll put the bulb outside, hope that it get enough leaves to produce enough food to store in the next bulb for the next set of flowers.

Posted by Gerry
www.hamilton.turfking.ca

Leap Year

Leap year is this Year. Rosemary's uncle will celebrate his 24th birthday on February 29. He has 4 children and I think 5 grandchildren. He and his wife will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in March this year.

Is Leap Year good or bad? One lady complained "My mothers care home have just sent me a bill for £65.50 for the 29th Feb one off extra day charge due to leap year.
new one on me ?

So if you are paying for something by the day, this year you will have to pay more. If however, you rented your apartment for instance by the month, you essentially get one day free. (at least compared to 2007 and 2009.

Found this article on the leap years and Julian calendars etc. that explains how it was changed, -more than once and also talks about being shortchanged on taxes for http://www.boyet.com/Articles/EnglishTaxYear.html

Also another one on Calendar reform. I always thought the extra day was added because February was a short month. One thing I got between those 2 articles is that in the old calendars the new year started in late March-when spring came. February was at the end of the year. Adding a day at the end of the year seems more plausible than just adding it to the short month, and in the coldest time of the year.

At Turf King we don't sell things by the day or the month, so maybe we are losing out. Maybe we have to re-think that.