Dear PBSers, This is a challenging climate under the best of conditions, but lately the temps have been exceedingly the norm. We've had a couple days ranging from 105 to 107 F, baking sun, drying winds and worse. A few hundred miles west of here in Central KS it has been up to 118 degrees and that is in the shade. Yesterday I was driving across the Missouri River and the car thermometer measured 112, but that reflected heat from the pavement and the water reflections. Needless to say the plantings are wilting almost daily and we have to water almost everything and almost every day. Pots evaporate amazingly quickly. So what takes this weather: Crinums are doing great. They all show some water stress with browning leaf tips, but 'Super Ellen' is the star just putting up its 6 or 7th flower stalk up to 6 ft tall. The color is an rich rose red, but the flowers do not last as long as they might in cooler weather. Still with many flowers in succession and many stalks there's been a show for well over two weeks. Various Crinum x powellii are also going to town. The typical pink form's flowers seems very stressed. The petals are normally thin and narrow and the hot drying winds really do damage. The white form I dug last year and donated dozens to the PBS BX, but kept 2 large bulbs. Both have put up two stalks -so far - and look surprisingly good considering they are not well established plants. We also have a few odds and ends- 'Catherine' is very unhappy with stems falling over and flowers very fleeting; 'Nestor's Pink' an improved x powellii is doing much better than typical and is a winner. 'Cecil Houdeyshel' is also holding up well. The first Crocosmia are also starting up. 'Lucifer' "was' an explosion of color in full sun until water hungry deer ate most of the flowers. The smaller and later 'George Davidson' has just started and so far avoided being eaten. Others will follow later. Gladiolus - Over the last couple years I acquired a few different G. papilio 'Ruby' from various seed and bulb sources. There seem to be two distinct color forms masquerading under this name. One is a clear bright red and seems the 'real thing', the other is a shade in dull mauve over red and definitely less showy. Still the more subdued color is interesting. The real test is if either will survive the winter now as both were planted out early this spring. Odds and ends Anthericum probably ramosum. Dozen of tiny white stars. Iris domestica and dichotoma the two parents of Candy Lilies (I x norrissii). A few Rain lilies, Zerphranthes and Habranthus; not due to any rain, but an occasional soak with the hose. Musa basjoo producing lots of foliage, but not attaining any height due to lack of rain. Others that get better watering are growing higher too. The strong winds sure filter out those that shred in a wind and those that keep entire foliage. There's probably something else, but most flowering is very set back by the combination of heat, drought and wind. Fingers crossed and enjoying what does manage to show some color. Best Jim W. in the Hot Heartland of Kansas City, Missouri -- 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 +