Dear friends, The extra leap day of February has allowed me to make some spring bloom claims in the garden. Enough ice melted to see some actual flowering and even more potential. Today, March 1 is forecast up to 60 degrees F before it plunges back into the mid-teens in a day or two. So I can make the following tally: Narcissus (minor) 'Cedric Morris' fully opened a day or two during a slight melting. Eranthis (Winter Aconite ) - 2 flowers fully open, but many others turning upwards. Galanthus nivalis (mostly) Quite a few turning down and some expanding, but none quite open- perhaps later today. Crocus - none, but anticipating C. sieberi 'Firefly' and C. ancyrensis if the sun and today's warming persist. Both show color. Cyclamen ( I think caucasicum) showing color and turning up barely. Still in tight bud. Adonis amurensis up and 'trying'. Not what you'd call a spring display, but a hint. The forecast calls for a low of 18 or 19 tomorrow and heavy rains on still deeply frozen ground. It is definitely 'not nice' out, but some day soon..... Optimistically yours Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +