It is difficult to make useful comments on plants growing in other conditions, and without keeping detailed observations over a series of years, but here in the UK winter moisture is not a problem (!). What I think is important for any winter-growing bulb is that the foliage is able to expand and function to its maximum ability, enabling it to photosynthesise at the most efficient rate possible and thus build up the bulb. In a dry but essentially mild climate this might mean the effect of good winter rains enabling good leaf development: in a wet but chilly climate this may mean the avoidance of leaf damage by frost. It would be interesting to correlate Amaryllis flowering here with the severity of the winter preceding (or perhaps that should be winters). The length of time a bulbous plant is in active growth is obviously important: if it dies down quickly in spring due to early drying-out of the soil it will not have been able to fatten up as much as one that stays green for longer. When does Amaryllis normally go dormant for members in different parts of the world? I noticed yesterday that a patch of bulbs below a south-facing wall here at Colesbourne was still in full lush leaf (and thought that we aren't likely to get any flowers!), undoubtedly due to the persistently damp and cool summer we've had. I would normally expect them to be dormant from about June onwards. John Grimshaw Dr. John M. Grimshaw Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Tel. 01242 870567