Amaryllis
My family gave me an amaryllis for my graduation. She was all potted up so when I got one as a kit for Christmas 2010 I didn't realise exactly what growing one involved. My Mum said it would last in the box "for ages" so when I checked on it mid-February I was a little shocked to find it had decided not to wait for me and had taken growing into its own hands. I felt so guilty but, as you will see from the photos below, the poor anaemic creature was not doomed. Stunted, yes, but doomed, no.
As if producing a beautiful, albeit shorter than average, bloom was not enough, my amaryllis had another trick up its sleeve. I'll let the pictures tell the story...
Three years later...amaryllis has become Mamaryllis, mother of 7 offspring.
Six years later...3 of her 7 babies come into flower for the first time.