Butterfly amaryllis is in bloom -- unlike the better-known big red amaryllis, these blooms are short-lived. . . but so exotic.
I didn't always appreciate amaryllis -- when I was growing up in Florida, our neighbors had a long row of them planted along the street. They throve and grew untidy, their long stems topped with gaudy red blooms usually toppled under their own weight.
A good thing I like them -- Mr. Google tells me that the bulbs can continue to produce flowers for up to seventy-five years. . .