This past weekend frost began here, later than usual. These are light frosts, enough to melt common garden Nasturtium but not enough to bother Tropaeolum hookerianum which is eagerly climbing up its twig supports, or to have any noticeable effects on the species bulbs growing in the beds around the weather station. This year my planting is better organized for frost protection, now with only 3 spots that require covers at night. Last night I brought my pots of Velthemia indoors for the night. I am seeing this year's major dig-up and hose-irrigation (rather than relying on unreliable rainfall) affecting bloom time. A few Ipheion uniflorum have bloomed but only 2 or 3 of thousands, and only in undisturbed beds. Some late-planted beds are only just emerging with leaves. Narcussus tazetta 'paper whites' are mostly finished and the 'china lily' variety finished in the back yard and mid-bloom in the front yard, all undisturbed beds. The Moraea polystachya in pots finished blooming mid December and I have harvested seed. But the M. polystachya replanted October in beds is only just coming into flower late December. Beside it, the Hyacinthoides mauritanica has half its stalks open in the first bed of larger bulbs planted but the stalks are only just peeking up in the second bed of smaller bulbs. Scilla peruviana planted in tall terra cotta pots has earlier than usual development of flower stalks, not open yet but soon. Whereas those in beds show no sign of stalks. The potted Oxalis are mostly done except one prolific bloomer in a pot on the porch, which lost its label. The O. purpurea common in my neighborhood has few purple blooms open but the pink variety is at its peak. Also on the porch, protected from frost, is the pot of Lachenalia viridifloris which put on a show all November and December and still has two stalks of waxy turquoise. Dierama used to bloom in April but now it seems to bloom any time of year, possibly due more to water than temperature or light. A few tall white ones are open now, only in one clump. Not much is in bloom but there are lots of promising green shoots. Gastil Santa Barbara, CA _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…