The Red Bay Garden club meets on the second Wednesday of each month to discuss ways to beautify Red Bay. In January, club secretary, Melody Pearson, brought Amaryllis bulbs (blooms come in a variety of colors) and members planted them in containers, adding decorative rocks and marbles.

“We didn’t have any visitors for our meeting this time, but several club members showed up,” explained Mary-Kathryn Wiggins, club treasurer. “We had all kinds of decorative stones and filled them about halfway up in the container,” she added. “When we got home, we watered them and waited for the flowers to bloom.”

Wiggins said she recommends planting an amaryllis in the winter months but added it can be anytime if the planting is done inside. “Once the bulb starts getting warm, it’ll start putting out,” she added.

She explained for those wanting to plant in the yard, January or February would be a good time, adding to plant them at least five inches deep to help protect the roots in the event of freezing temperatures as the extreme temperature can “ruin the bulb.”

Wiggins said it’s also important not to over-water them. “The soil might look dry, but that doesn’t always mean it needs water, though when you plant one, the soil needs to be wet. Soil retains moisture. With our recent project, we didn’t even have the bulbs touching the water. The roots will grow toward it.”

Wiggins noted some opt to keep the plants in containers year-round, moving them inside during the colder months. For that approach, she recommends waiting at least until the last frost has passed before taking them outside for the year, “probably around April 15.”

The group has its annual plant sale coming up, scheduled for April 13. It’s their biggest fundraiser, and sees people come from “all over North Alabama and Mississippi.” While it’s scheduled to start at 8 a.m., Wiggins predicts some will begin to arrive by 7:15 a.m. “It’s a big thing,” she added. “We always have a good turnout.” The sale takes place at Red Bay High School. For more information, visit the Red Bay Garden Club Facebook page.