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10/21/2009 12:00:00 PM

Amaryllis are the most popular gift ordered from White Flower Farm (http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/amaryllis) during the holiday season. The value-priced "Three Amaryllis for $99, Standard Delivery Included" offer continues this year as does the wide selection of over 40 varieties, plus economical amaryllis collections. Six exciting new varieties below were selected in trials at the nursery last winter.

** Amaryllis 'Samba' brings a whole new look with pure white edging and flares on lightly ruffled, bright red flowers.

** Amaryllis 'Peach Parfait' is surrounded by a white halo, and its soft peach petals converge to a dark peach star and pale green eye.

** Amaryllis 'Skyros' opens big blooms as white as snow, with a bit of green in the centers for contrast. It's cool and refreshing.

** Amaryllis 'Floris Hekker' shines as brightly as holly berries with deep orangy red blooms and dark red centers.

** Amaryllis 'Shangri-la' casts a spell of tranquil beauty with enormous, open-faced blossoms of solid pink.

** Amaryllis 'Flamenco Queen', exactly like its name, creates a lively display of deep red brushmarks, fretting, and edging against calm white and cool green.

White Flower Farm offers dozens of other holiday gifts perfect for gardeners and their friends. Here are some staff favorites:

** Canella Berry Wreath – Freshly harvested Noble Fir becomes a robust base for Incense Cedar with its tiny, golden cones, Arborvitae, large Ponderosa Pine cones, and sprigs with silvery gray Juniper berries. Bright red Canella berries provide the finishing touch. Learn details about White Flower Farm's new "Make-Your-Own Wreath" contest at http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/contest.

** Thistle Stocking Feeder for Bird Lovers -- Also new this year! Hang this red stocking with care, not by the chimney, but where you can easily view the goldfinches, siskins, and redpolls that will flock to it for holiday meals. Fabricated of mesh polyester with a vine-embroidered satin cuff, it holds about 1 1/2 pounds of thistle seeds (included).

** White Tree Wisteria -- The Crown Jewel at White Flower Farm’s nursery. The spectacular beauty and vigor of Wisterias are best employed by growing this rampant vine in the form of small trees. The effect is stately and graceful. Plants ship in the spring, with a gift card sent in time for the holidays.

** Winter Solace -- Paperwhite ‘Ariel’ is an earlier bloomer than the familiar ‘Ziva’ and also bears 14-18 large flowers on each stem. Its snowy white clusters make a dramatic centerpiece or holiday bouquet, especially when paired with the red berries of winterberry holly in White Flower Farm's wide hurricane vase.

** Jasmine in Firenze Pot -- New for 2009, these bushy plants arrive in an 11-inch, white-clay pot designed by Randy Ouzts, with matching saucer. Unmatched fragrance for the dead of winter!

** Shrimp Plant -- Another addition and with a fun name! Native to Mexico, the Shrimp Plant has playful arrangements of salmon-colored bracts enclosing slender white blooms. This soft-leaved plant prospers in bright, indirect light and keeps on blooming. Winner of an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

** 12 Months of Plants -- This selection of choice and unusual houseplants reflects years of experience and is guaranteed to please. The gift series starts with three months of plants and ranges up to an entire year.

** Fresh Pineapple, Honeybells and Ruby Red Grapefruit -- New for 2009, ripe fruit picked, packed and delivered direct from the grower. Tropical Gold® Pineapples are sent fresh from Hawaii, while Honeybells, the sweetest and juiciest citrus (shipped in January only), and Ruby Red Grapefruit come from Florida (shipping begins in early November).

** Heirloom Tomato Collection for 2010 -- These flavorful all-stars include full-bodied slicers ('Orange Strawberry Oxheart' and 'Gold Medal Yellow'); hefty beefsteak 'Red Brandywine'; juicy, garnet-colored 'Black Prince'; tangy, late-season 'Green Zebra'; and German 'Riesentraube' that resemble a bunch of grapes. One plant of each in 3-inch pots, six plants in all. Shipped for spring planting.

And don't forget to shop for those who cook as well as garden. New this year: the Cutting Board & Tomato Knife, as well as an All-Purpose Food Mill. White Flower Farm handpicked each gift from their garden (and kitchen) to yours. Happy Holidays!

Barb Pierson, the nursery manager at White Flower Farm, is available for interviews upon request, as are other experts.

White Flower Farm is a family-owned nursery located in northwest Connecticut. Since 1950, they have been gathering, evaluating, growing, and selling a wide range of annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, bulbs, and houseplants representing the very best varieties from around the world. Plants shipped are true to name, free of disease, and in prime condition for growing. While in the area, stop by White Flower Farm with its five acres of display gardens, or visit www.whiteflowerfarm.com, where you will also find helpful gardening information including how-to videos. White Flower Farm -- we make your garden grow.