cover image Amaryllis

Amaryllis

Starr Ockenga. Clarkson N Potter Publishers, $20 (96pp) ISBN 978-0-609-60881-4

One winter, photographer Ockenga (Earth on her Hands) set up a greenhouse in the Hudson River Valley to ward off the cold and soothe her ache for some exotic warmth. Though she bought orchids, freesias and other tropicals, she soon developed an obsession with one bright flower, the amaryllis, and amassed 350 plants comprising over 90 varieties. Restricting herself to natural light and a single camera, lens and film type, she set out to document her flowers, their ""architectural stature, brilliant wardrobes, and enigmatic personalities."" The resulting book is lovely and purposeful, lacking spontaneity but not passion. Amateur and professional bulb enthusiasts will find lots to appreciate, including chapters on amaryllis history, botany, care, and cultivation. Throughout this slim volume, Ockenga focuses her lens on every stage of amaryllis life, from oniony bulb to withered stalk. A glossary of hybrids, illustrated with almost 100 exquisite photos, includes flowers like ""Masai"" and ""Star of Holland,"" whose names hint at their origins, and ""Red Peacock"" and ""Sunrise,"" named for their spectacular colors.