Hi all, I agree with Rand. Many years of planting Ismene and Hymenocallis out in the garden in spring and digging them in the autumn demonstrated unequivocally to me that they do pull themselves down, in just one season of growth. Crinums planted 8 to 12 inches deep two years ago were dug up sitting at a depth of 18 to 20 inches (depths to base of bulbs). No big deal. Remember that wet earth is a viscous liquid. Jim Shields in central Indiana (USA) At 11:52 PM 7/14/2005 -0300, Rand wrote: >When you consider what the roots of even small, "fragile" plants can to to >asphalt and concrete and natural rock, it is not in the least incredible >that a large mature bulb in a porous medium can move itself to its desired >level. Most of them have had millenia to work out various strategies to >accomplish this. > >In my climate, any outdoor bulbs are left to fend for themselves and, >often, I find that transplanting them involves a lot more digging than the >original planting. > >Rand In The Great White North ************************************************* Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd. P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/ Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA