Howdy All, Sorry for being so late with a response to the Babiana TOTW.... I've been struggling with Chronic Fatigue badly of late and it means that there can be up to a week at a time that I am unable to use the computer. Better late than never I suppose. It has been fascinating to read all the info on Babiana. I certainly learned a few bits and pieces from it (which is going to be very handy) and I shall be potting mine into bigger pots by the sound of it. I find that some of mine are a bit shy to flower, so I am wondering if the shallow planting is producing multiplying effects instead of flowering, like in some of the Crocus species? I have to say that above all, I am so glad that my garden cannot read emails. From the various TOTW and discussions I have so often seen that so many plants are not supposed to tolerate frost at all..... when I have them growing happily here in Canberra and getting down to at least -5'C every year and sometimes down to -8 or -p'C. Babianas are no exception and are doing fine here whether received as bulbs of as seeds. The only one I have grown to flowering from seed is B. pulchra, but there are a couple that are getting large enough that there may be signs of flowers this season or definitely next season. These have all been grown in small pots and done fine, but I can see that some of them have been sitting at the bottom of the pots at the end of the season as they obviously weren't happy in such shallow pots..... but it certainly hasn't killed them, so if you only have space for small pots then at least try them as they're likely to at least grow even if they aren't successful in flowering. I grow about a dozen or so species now I think, including seedlings, and I obviously don't give them the TLC that they are "supposed" to require (Being sick so much in the last few years means that I cannot necessarily repot when required or look after them as well as I should) but they keep on growing. When happy many of the species multiply VERY well and can crowd their pots (small pots in my case as I have said..... I just realised that I had better clarify that as 5 or 6 inch pots that may be normal or 'squat' heights, so there isn't a great deal of space for them). I really have to say that I have found them easy and trouble free for me here. As I said above, they get down to -5 to -8'C each year, and we get to the high 30s - low 40'C sometimes for quite long periods of time. Most of my pots get watering year around as I have real trouble letting a pot dry out in summer (it is just a thing that I can't do.... I feel sorry for them <Grin>) but I am gradually training myself to have an area where pots are watered less frequently where they require it. This year I am actually going to try a "dry" area for summer as well, where the pots are seldom if ever going to get watered....... but I am not sure I'll be able to do it as I'll just itch to give the little dears some water. Certainly I have never found any problems with Babianas being watered here in summer, nor do they mind being knocked out of pots and dried over summer in the garage. I find them a real no-trouble plant. When I finally get Babiana ringens to flower for me (I have 2 and 3 year old seedlings at the moment that are growing along happily for me at the moment) then you'll probably all hear the cheer from wherever you are <grin>. That little one is at first glance VERY little like a Babiana flower and almost resembles to me a Strelitzia flower in some ways. Babiana pygmae on the other hand is a beautiful, upward facing, open, pale yellow saucer flower with a dark centre. The flower is as wide as the plant is tall (or at least that was the case when mine flowered this year). Very striking in the garden and commented on by everyone who saw it Anyway, I'd best stop chattering on about them. I'd definitely recommend Babianas as I have found them easy to grow and rewarding when in flower. Some of the petal colours and shades, as well as lip markings etc, are just wonderful and a realy treat when in flower. If this message prompts any questions that I need to answer, please bear with me if there is a delay. I am at times unable to use the computer for days due to illness, but I will respond when i next get onto the Internet and download my email. Hopefully this was of some use to someone, and maybe even prompts someone to try this genus who hasn't already. They are definitely WELL worth the effort (what little effort that is, or course). Cheers. Paul Tyerman Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9 mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus, Cyrtanthus, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything else that doesn't move!!!!!