This seems like such an ideal bulb for the San Francisco Bay area, yet I have never seen any in gardens or for sale other than online. Am I living under a rock, or is there a reason they would be scarce ? Chad Schroter -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Rodger Whitlock Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 6:10 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: [pbs] What's flowering this week Sternbergia lutea. I have three groups of sternbergia. The earliest to flower is probably cv. Angustifolia, narrow leaves with a white line down the middle; probably from Avon Bulbs long ago. These flower around the end of September. The second form to flower came from a local garden center, and flowers about a month later than the first. The third, which I am almost certain I also bought from Avon Bulbs some 20 years ago, is just coming into flower now. It is possible that their late flowering is not inherent, but due to being lifted and transplanted this fall. Secret to growing sternbergia: they apparently need quite warm soil when dormant. Mine are all in a bed about 6' away from a white stucco, south-facing wall that reflects a lot of heat onto the bed in summer. And, it almost goes without saying, dry soil in summer, reasonable wintertime drainage. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this electronic mail message is intended only for the use of the designated recipient(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this message in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender by telephone or e-mail (as shown above) immediately and destroy any and all copies of this message in your possession (whether hard copies or electronically stored copies).