desk drama

The last thing I need in my life at the moment is drama. All the time I've been writing Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer, I've nursed a secret dread of something horribly dramatic happening (broken legs, car crashes, teeth destroyed in rugby matches, the usual stuff). I've been under so much pressure time-wise that there's no space for emergencies.

So I am happy to have the drama happening elsewhere. I don't even mind it on my desk - just as long as it is confined to the flowers. 

For the last month the amaryllis have been seeking attention and showing off like mad. One by one, they have taken centre stage like a parade of divas, while I have been in the audience watching the show.

Or maybe I should say I'm their stage manager or lighting technician - trying to stand them in the most flattering light so I can photograph their best profiles. H. 'Emerald' (top) was photographed on a stormy, grey day but somehow managed to pick up the few rays of sunshine that were available (typical starlet) and suddenly turned lime green in the centre.

H. 'Ruby Meyer' (what a name - she's definitely an opera singer) was simply stunning in both diffuse and direct light (above and below). There's a flower that knows how to work the camera, as Tyra would say.

And H. 'Exotic Star' (below) was a game girl with real staying power. Her performance outlasted the rest and she even did a little encore when a final bloom suddenly emerged from the bulb just as I thought the show was over.

It's fitting that the desk drama has come to an end just as the book is almost done. But that does not mean I'm ready for some real drama now.

                                ***

Thank you so much for all your comments about Australian books for children. I've ordered a stack of the titles to read in the British Library, and am looking forward to immersing myself in the stories and foods. I have to disappoint some people though, and say that I'm not up to creating a recipe for a magic pudding - the clue to the reason why is in the name of dish.

Comments

[Claudia]

Stunning flowers! I shall have to go back and read all the Australian food comments. I am a bit enthralled with the country at the moment, as we are considering emigrating at the end of summer.

Fingers crossed for no more drama (unless of the floral variety).

[Phoe]

Here's hoping the drama contains itself to spring blooms! Lovely flowers.

[Maritza]

hello Jane,

a good source for antipodean recipes is the Edmonds 'sure to rise' cookbook
the 'sure to rise' bit of the title always cracks me up !

good luck with the deadline

[misti]

I love the beautiful simplicity of the amaryllis. Such gorgeous flowers.

[Laura A.]

Simply gorgeous. I will definitely put a note in my calendar to get some amaryllis next fall. This is the first year I didn't get any and now I feel as if they're taunting me!

[Pattie in San Francisco]

Dear Jane: You wrote that you couldn't create Magic Pudding and the clue was in the recipe title. Well, I'm sorry you haven't mastered the art of making pudding, because you definitely have the magic part down pat.

Looking forward to tulip photos soon.

[Novembrance]

These are some of your most beautiful photos yet, Jane. How you do inspire me.

[allison]

Wow. I'm going to keep my eyes open for H. Emerald. Have you tried pollinating amaryllis before? They're very easy, and make scores of seeds that sprout readily. The only trouble is you have to wait four or five years before they bloom to see what you get!

Lovely pics, thanks for brightening up my afternoon!

[Wild Rose]

Hi Jane

Exotic Star is well named ~ what a beauty!

I finally received your book this morning after waiting almost 10 weeks. I'm looking forward to dipping into The Gentle Art of Domesticity this weekend.

Marie x

[Mellissa - wondermommy]

Amazing flowers and your shots of them are perfection!

[Fran the fan]

my amaryllis bulb has grown very tall and beautiful, but I seem to remember seeing some instructions about trimming something??? Any advice?
Sorry to be so vague but I want to do what's best for the plant!

[elizabeth a airhart]

lovely lovely floral display
i am in florida this night
wicked weather all around me

i do not know if my favorite
dish when i was a little girl
ever so long ago is in a book.
it was called float-pudding
home made cooked then highly
beaten egg whites dropped on top
to float my comfort food when sick

[Becca]

This is not the first time I have thought that you somehow have the most beautiful amaryllis in the world!

[paula luckhurst]

They are so beautiful.

[Sarah]

I have no idea about aussie puds but your flowers are delicious in themselves!

[Marta Mourão]

I love your flower pictures. Lovely light!

[willow]

Ah yes, the flowers are seeking attention with those loud statements, yelling at you from the desk. I had a little mind warp and started naming the various amaryllis with my kindergarten students' names...this one's definitely D.--always the star looking for MORE attention, that one is L.--the quiet one who steals the show. And so on...

[Pru]

From memory Jane, the Magic Pudding was not only a cut and come again pud (ie everlasting), he was also, depending on your whim, a steak and kidney pud or a jam roly-poly pud. Maybe theres two recipes there. He was also very tetchy, had a fine line in pinches and kept running away from his owners

[Jenyfer Matthews]

I'm so glad I dropped in here today. Your flower photos are gorgeous - and they reminded me to check on a bowl of tulip bulbs I stuck in a dark cupboard a few weeks ago and promptly forgot about! Thank goodness they are sprouting in spite of my neglect :)

[Elspeth Thompson]

Hi I am not sure if this will get through as I don't think I have the above accounts. As a longstanding fan of your blog and book, however, I wanted finally to tell you how much I enjoy it. I write about gardening for The Sunday Telegraph and mentioned your book last Sunday in a column about "patchwork gardening" and I have also listed your Blog as one of my favourites (pretty new to Blogs) on my new website. Do see if you have time to check it out - www.elspeththompson.co.uk. Many thanks for all your inspiration!

[Elspeth Thompson]

Hi I am not sure if this will get through as I don't think I have the above accounts. As a longstanding fan of your blog and book, however, I wanted finally to tell you how much I enjoy it. I write about gardening for The Sunday Telegraph and mentioned your book last Sunday in a column about "patchwork gardening" and I have also listed your Blog as one of my favourites (pretty new to Blogs) on my new website. Do see if you have time to check it out - www.elspeththompson.co.uk. Many thanks for all your inspiration!

[elspeth thompson]

Oh Jane, that seems to have gone through, so I feel more confident. I forgot to say that the website - http://www.elspeththompson.co.uk - covers gardening, interiors and my dream to turn a cottage made from two old Victorian railway carriages on the south coast into an eco-house with solar panel, sedum roof, rainwater harvesting etc. Inspired by you, I've just started a Blog, which can be reached from this site and, as I said, have listed Yarnstorm as one of my favourites.
All good wishes to you, and good luck with the next book!
x Elspeth

[Sharon]

Your flower photos are always inspiring, & these Amaryllis . . .

I have one coming up now, which managed to survive from last year. As I had several then I'm looking forward to discovering which has survived!

[Lella]

Flowers! Yay! I search the web for this you know. Thank you! And the socks are very cute, too. Darling actually