Joe asked, >I have sandy-silt, silty-sand and I'm looking for dependable bulbs >that thrive in such. Natives or otherwise. > >California, USDA Zone 9, SWGB Zone 16/17. Almost all bulbs can be grown in this type of soil as long as you supply them with a little extra fertility and plant them deeply so they will be cool enough during their dormant period. I grow hundreds of Mediterranean-climate species, including California natives, in pure coarse sand over a layer of compost and clay, and when I had them in pots, my soil mix was half sand and one-quarter ground pumice. I fertilize them once in fall and three times in spring with soluble fertilizer (Miracle-Grow Blossom Booster) at half strength. As for dependable, you will have to experiment with that! Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA