Drar Friends, How about a bulb topic? After extended drought and a 1 inch rainfall, the ground is still rock hard and bloom season has been very slow and slight. Today I counted 5 stems of L. caldwellii where last year the number was closer to 100 stems. Some late L. squamigera are still emerging - very piece-meal and delayed. L. incarnata are just finishing up. And various chinensis/longituba hybrids continue. The total number of blooming stems is very low-maybe 10 percent of typical. We are still very much in need of a good penetrating rain fall to produce more late stalks and encourage the next and last Lycoris season starring L. radiata. Non-Lycoris bloom is very spotty. Lilium seed pods are developing. A potted Gloriosa is blooming. This is the first time I have grown any of this genus. What a weird and wonderful bloom it is! Most of the garden looks to be on '"hold' waiting for moisture. Even though days are starting off cooler (60 sF instead of 70s or 80 F), the temps are still up to 90 F by peak time. So what is blooming in other parts of the country? Share you garden successes. 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 +