The cold, sunless days of winter in Wisconsin receive a February surprise in Calvin and Becky’s farmhouse. The gift is from our dear departed Granny (Delphine Polk Gatch) who for many years was kind enough to send amaryllis bulbs in December to all her children and grandchildren. That added up to a lot of amaryllis plants. Not all of them survived. It takes time to take care for amaryllis and even if they are planted in the spring – who remembers to dig them up and pot them each fall before the frost?

Becky Gatch is our family amaryllis expert, having saved and brought the bulbs back to bloom each winter since 2001. Each February the Gatch family is rewarded with a magnificent display of beautiful blooms. Daisy, Abbey and now Cal IV have grown up posing with each year’s huge blooms. Mother Gatch would indeed be gratified by and proud of Becky’s efforts and the blossoms that emerge in the farmhouse in February.

If you ask Becky her secret, she will gladly tell you – horse manure!

Editor’s Note: amaryllis comes from the Greek word ἀμαρύσσω which means “I sparkle, twinkle”.

It’s high time we officially acknowledge the huge efforts of Cynthia Cromie to research, compile and send out the invaluable Walnut Tally, from Pillow Polk Press. Hardly a day goes by that we don’t refer to this resource for address, phone or email info, and I’m sure this is true for all of the family.

Also with this year’s mailing of the Tally, Cynthia included a beautiful copy of Remuemenage*, a collection with exquisite photographs of Jack Cromie’s poetry and prose – a real treasure.

Thank you Cynthia!

LC
*remue-ménage: French, commotion, tumult; a Jack Cromie coinage I believe…