Dear Friends, I was looking over today's round of new crocus flowers and found a Crocus tommasinianus with 9 petals,semi-double. That got me to wondering about crocus with double flowers and came across the listing of Janis Ruksans C chrysanthus 'Goldmine' he claims is the world's first double flowered crocus. Does anyone grow this and what is it really like ? Earllier this week we had 2 nights in the low teens (around 12 degrees F), so even after some warming up I was semi-shocked to see the Juno iris 'Sindpers' up and opening 2 flowers. This is a beautiful blue, early Juno I bought from Jane McGary a few years ago and it has formed a nice clump. Most other Junos are up already too, but only I. aucheri (one of 'Sindpers' parents) is showing buds. The forecast calls for a week in the 60 to 70 degree range so I suspect spring is here even though it seems way too early. Snowdrops are essentially over and crocus are peaking. This seems way too early with official spring still a week away. Best Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +