Jim: Did I understand that you are growing Iris unguicularis and I. lazica in the ground? If so, what temps have these survived without snow cover and how many years have you had them in the ground? Thanks. Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdelights.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of James Waddick Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:48 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] Iris lazica >Iris lazica is blooming today in one of my cold frames. Two unnamed >accessions of the related I. unguicularis have also been blooming. Dear Jim McK and all, Your lazica and unguilares are way ahead. I am close to - if not at the limit - but I unguiculares should open its first flower the next sunny day and no buds visible on lazica yet. No reticulata flowers, but many leaves poking up. Hope to see flowers ln I cretensis too. Fingers crossed. These are all in the ground and not in cold frames. >Other than tommies, things are quiet on the crocus front - that's a puzzle. Our first was C. sieberi 'Firelfy' - then 'Bowles White' followed by ancyrensis and then tommies, but just a few. Still anticipating a better show here too. Narc. 'Cedric Morris' has been open about 5 weeks and is just now looking sad and fading. Meanwhile 'Rynfeld's Early Sensation' is coming on strong and blooming by the dozen. Eranthis are about done and Adonis is well up, but not showing color yet. My few Cyclamen have fared as good as any winter and foliage is not badly damaged as usual. Even a single Rosmary plant in a cool part of the garden is surviving - this is a unique event. We too have this very odd weather. No winter to speak of, but wondering what's coming -Snow and freezes in April or may? IS it spring? Best Jim -- 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 +