I've had Chasmanthe floribunda outside for several seasons now, and it seems to have settled into a winter growing pattern. Some earlier discussions of this species on this list led me to expect it to crave heat; in fact, its lack of bloom here was attributed to lack of heat by one contributor. This year the plant emerged in late winter and was growing very strongly until it got hot. Although I watered it, once the heat kicked in it quit. I wondered if that was it - if the heat had killed it. Today I see it emerging in strength again. Is this species typically a winter grower in the Northern Hemisphere? Crinum x powellii 'Album' did the same thing: it died down during the heat of the summer and is now putting up fresh foliage. Are these signs of the Mediterraneanizaton of our climate? I'm beginning to wonder if some plants are not sensing what some politicians want to deny. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where, as if to contribute to the Mediterranean theme, the Algerian iris, Iris unguicularis, is blooming today, too. My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/ BLOG! http://mcwort.blogspot.com/ Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/ Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/