Re: TOW--Bulbs for Pacific Northwest - RIP Bulbs that died out fairly fast, with the possible reasons: Too dry? These are plants that grow well elsewhere in Victoria Fritillaria imperialis, meleagris, michailovskyi, persica 'Adiyaman', Galtonia candicans, Ipheion uniflorum and 'Wisley Blue' bulb Iris - Dutch, English (latifolia), reticulata hybrids, Leucojum aestivum and vernum, Nectaroscordum siculum --------------------------------------------------- Not sure why: Eremurus robustus was in the unwatered area where a lot of the above bulbs died, and only lavender, rosemary, artemisia and Senecio 'Sunshine' thrive. --------------------------------------------------- Maybe shaded out, or maybe eaten by rats, mice and squirrels: Crocus. Various C.chrysanthus hybrids have died out, even though planted by the dozen, and occasionally by the hundred. Several cvs of C. biflorus and sieberi have survived since '89 but haven't increased. C.tommasinianus that I thought would take over the yard as it has at the Bishop's Close in Portland, Oregon, seems to have been shaded out. ---------------------------------------------------- Narcissus: One of Victoria's major agricultural crops is Narcissus.The blooms are flown east to cheer those not lucky enough to live here. As I mentioned in a previous post, the narcissus fly is a major pest here. It lays its eggs on the soil where the leaves emerge, and when the larvae have finished munching, there is a lot missing out of the middle of the bulb. I could dig up my bulbs and soak them in hot water but I don't have time for that. I try to plant bulbs near something that will grow fast and cover the area so the fly can't find a good spot to lay eggs. Hostas would work if the deer didn't eat them so now I am planting bulbs around sword ferns (Polystichum munitum). Maybe I should use the creeping evergreen Himalayan maidenhair fern (Adiantum venustum) as a groundcover over some of the smaller narcissus. I have a lot of species in pots ready to be planted.