Kathleen wrote, >A crocus is about half up and out, enough to see that it is >lavender, but not to confirm the species. Lavender crocuses in flower here (climate about the same as Kathleen's) are C. sieberi ssp. atticus, C. rujanensis, C. michelsonii, and the last flowers on C. laevigatus. Other crocuses appearing include C. chrysanthus, C. gargaricus, C. minimus, C. fleischeri, and C. flavus (wild forms). Many Narcissus of the Bulbocodium (hoop petticoat) group are in flower, such as N. cantabricus, N. romieuxii, and the earlier forms of N. bulbocodium itself such as ssp. praecox and ssp. pallidus. I also have a number of apparent hybrids of these in flower, rescued from where they were growing in the sand between the pots in the old bulb frame. I particularly like the short-stemmed ones, though these would probably not please our Narcissus specialists. The winter Colchicum species are in flower, such as C. hungaricum (pink and white forms), C. munzurense, C. doerfleri, and a couple grown from wild-collected seed that I can't pin down; also the former Merendera species, now Colchicum trigynum and C. atticum. All of these are very small-growing plants. Sternbergia fischeriana is about to open its yellow flowers, and I hope to see bloom on S. candida in a month or two. In addition to Iris stenophylla, discussed in another post on Juno irises, all the Reticulata irises are emerging, with I. histrioides (wild form and a cultivar) already in full bloom. Their blue flowers are a lovely combination with the white of Narcissus cantabricus, a rapid increaser whose bulbs I planted in drifts throughout the beds for early display. (If I need to, I can tie the stems of these narcissi together to mark them for removal if they threaten their neighbors. However, their leaves are so narrow that I don't feel they interfere. I've allowed several plants to "invade," including Crocus gargaricus and Oxalis obtusa. The latter is barely winter-hardy here and stays very small, but its large flowers are a good addition to the late winter scene.) Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA