The Perfect Christmas Gift

Dear readers,

It's me again, Vlad, the person at Fluwel, who is just crazy about the Amaryllis. I know, I sound like a record player stuck, but I just can't stop talking about these beautiful flowers. She is simply the best, especially in the dark months of the year and even more so, for those who live in an apartment without a garden. Easy to care for and available in more than 200 different varieties, the Amaryllis amazes everyone with her beautiful flowers and easy growth. Even if you are not a plant lover at all, there is always a shape or color that makes you say 'wow, how beautiful'.

This year we offer the largest Amaryllis collection we have ever had, with over 100 different varieties. We do our best to offer you all the beauty that the Amaryllis has to offer. We also want to thank everyone who has already placed an order with us. They will all be sent this week.

In this month of gifts, think about an Amaryllis, it really is the perfect gift for everyone: your mother, your best friend, your neighbor, teacher or colleague at work. Believe me, we have an offer for every taste. Here are a few recommendations: This is the 'Blossom Grandise' and I know what you're going to say "isn't this the Apple Blossom?" Well, no, it isn't. Here you should think of an Apple Blossom max. The flowers of the Blossom Grandise are big, very big, sometimes more than 25 cm. I love her because she reminds me of the first warm days of spring, when everything comes to life again and the birds sing. She is the perfect gift for everyone who loves really big flowers. Now that we're talking about 'Apple Blossom' and its look-a-likes, this is 'Blossom Nymph', one of the newcomers in the Nymf series. Very large flowers on fairly short sturdy stems, I love its subtle veined colour pattern, and its round face. Lovely lavish soft pastels, well-filled flowers. Speaking of doubles, this is 'Marilyn', one of the best double whites in my humble opinion. She is grand, majestic and even has a distinct green tinge in certain lighting conditions. While green-toned blooms are not for everyone, I find she impresses with how long her bouncy blooms last. Marilyn is all flower power, perfect for those who love an abundance of flowers. This is 'Pinkolo' and while it may not be your first choice in the pink palette, it never fails to impress. It was selected from a couple dozen sister clones for its clean white stripe along the petals, its trumpet shape and its height. It is never too tall, most plants only grow to 30cm. Pinkolo reminds me of candy cane, the pink version. My favourite thing about it is the number of stems and flowers per stem each bulb produces: usually at least 3, but often 4 stems, each with 6 or more flowers per stem. It makes the perfect gift for someone looking for a smaller Amaryllis. It wouldn't be Christmas without red flowers, would it? This is 'Orient', a super dark red with a rich and warm tone. It doesn't grow very tall, its stems are very sturdy, and its color is extraordinary. Sometimes, in certain lighting conditions, you can almost see some brown tones in it, unlike many other dark reds that tend to have blue tones. Orient is the perfect gift for anyone who loves dark red flowers with an extra kick. And last but not least a recommendation from today's newsletter is 'Opal Star', with her medium sized flowers that sometimes vary a bit in color intensity. Sometimes 'Opal Star' is quite light, with just a hint of pink, while the next flower can show deep cherry tones. I like Opal Star because of her rich flowering, her trouble-free growth. She often flowers 2, if not 3 times a year. She is the perfect gift for those who like fast growing flower bulbs, which are usually in bloom in just 4 weeks after planting.

Being so madly in love with Amaryllis has become a part of my life, just like breakfast, lunch or dinner. I live and breathe this plant all the time, no matter my mood, time of year, whether I am tired or full of energy. It is like water. Because of this (and partly because of my dedication and determination) I have had the opportunity and privilege to work with so many different varieties, that I can now easily identify almost any variety with just one look. And when I tell you that there is an Amaryllis for everyone in this world, I mean it sincerely. Small or large, double or not, early or late blooming, we have it all and I am so grateful to be part of this story, to be able to offer you this beauty, especially in the coming grey months.

If you would like more recommendations on Amaryllises, please email us at info@fluwel.nl and I will do my best to answer you personally, whatever your question. With our beautiful assortment we can make all of Santa's wishes come true.

Should I continue? I feel like I can never stop talking about this beautiful flower bulb, but it is time to get to the topic of Strategy 2025, which I am very excited about. I love writing these Amaryllis stories for all of you, so maybe I will write another one before the year is over.

Warm greetings from North Holland,

Vlad Hempel

PS This is what my pot of Scilla madeirensis looks like, just 4 weeks after planting. Very impressive, huh? How are your Scilla doing? Share your thoughts with us via email or social media. Next year we plan to bring more stock into our shop and offer other amazingly beautiful Scillas.

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