You may find that calyptratum is more fragrant in the evening then during the day? Mine is not yet blooming size, so I can't say for sure. As for the vulnerability of the bulbs to this extended coldness, you might try piling more snow on top of them as insulation. I took the added precaution of putting a thick layer of dry, milled peat moss over a small bed, and then covered it with a piece of rigid plastic. I guess we'll all get to see what this winter leaves us. Good luck! Rick Buell New London CT -------------------------------------------- On Thu, 1/4/18, Nicholas plummer <nickplummer@gmail.com> wrote: Subject: [pbs] Hippeastrum calyptratum (and cold weather) To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> Date: Thursday, January 4, 2018, 8:02 PM Like everyone else on the east coast of the USA, we're we're experiencing a cold start to 2018 in North Carolina. The low temperatures aren't particularly unusual, but they are persisting longer than in recent winters. I'm starting to worry about how deep the ground might be freezing and whether the frost will reach the South African and South American bulbs that I have planted in the past five years. I guess I'll find out in spring. In my greenhouse, I have my first Hippeastrum calyptratum flowers on a four-year-old plant. I am very pleased with their appearance but somewhat disappointed by their fragrance. After reading descriptions of "burning plastic," I was expecting something really nasty, but all I can detect is a very faint odor reminiscent of wet paint. I guess my nose isn't as sensitive as a bat's. Pictures here: https://sweetgumandpines.wordpress.com/ Happy new year. Nick Plummer North Carolina, USA, Zone 7. _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…