Dear friends, I just want to pass a long a note about the surprising hardiness of Fritillaria persica here. I had replanted 6 bulbs last fall and all are in full bloom; a bit sparse perhaps due to replanting or prior over crowded status. At full bloom they are something like 15 to 20 inches in height. These are blooming quite early after a mild winter. 2 days ago we had 4 inches of wet heavy snow and the temps drop to somewhere around 24 to 26 F. When I trudged out through the snow the Frits had formed a perfect 180 degree arch with the top of the flowering stem touching the snow and the regularly pendant flower facing straight up. And frozen solid. Today with 2 days of 40 and 50 degrees, ample sunshine and light breezes, the plants are all perfectly upright, flowers pendant and foliage undamaged. The breeze was enough to shake the stem back into a rigidly upright stature and some flowers even seem to show the start of swelling seed pods. Totally unfazed. I didn't go check the other garden frits before and after, but none look damaged by the hard freeze and snow. I am surprised exactly how well these plants have endured some very hard conditions essentially in full growth. Aren't plants amazing sometimes? 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 +