I've tried A. belladonna here in the Chicago area a number of times--both very large and smaller bulbs. They just don't tolerate zero degrees F for days at a time, when those days are invested in single-digit weeks. Even within a foot of the foundation of the house where I have overwintered Eucomis, Zantedeschias, Crinum and a few hardy glads, they can't survive. They will tolerate 28° F for a few nights, maybe even a week or so, but way down ? Nope. ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Aley" <aley_wd@mac.com> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 1:34 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Amaryllis belladona in Connecticut > When I lived in West Seattle, WA. Naked Ladies Amaryllis belladonna is > almost a weed. Homes of days gone by were lost to the foundations yet > in late summer the pink blooms would appear from the long forgotten > gardens. We learned that the best time to transplant the bulb in when > it is in full bloom. The clay soil is almost solid in our West > Seattle's Summer drought- usually 4 weeks of it. With determination we > managed to transplant long established clumps of the plant with > repeated blooms the next year. After moving to the East coast my > singular bulb has languished for several years with no sign of a bloom > yet. Too wet - Too cold. > > Bill > Silver Spring, MD > > > On Feb 16, 2009, at 2:13 PM, Judy Glattstein wrote: > >> The first time I saw Amaryllis belladonna in California, one >> September, >> I was asking my husband to stop at each sighting. When I saw a 200-ft >> long driveway solid pink on both sides I finally calmed down. If >> memory >> serves, that was the same trip where the vase of flowers on the >> check-in >> desk at the Best Western in Davis, CA was Lycoris aurea. Good trip. >> >> Anyhow, to return to Jim's question of how did I protect the winter >> foliage of Amaryllis belladonna - I didn't. It was under the roof >> overhang rather close to the house wall and planted deep in the >> ground. >> The soil stayed dry, and if there was snow I just shoveled more snow >> over the leaves. >> >> Lycoris radiata in the open garden would languish, diminish, and die >> after about 3 years. Should have moved it up by the house. >> >> Jim, let me know if you want me to excavate my garden journal from way >> back when and try to unearth more details. >> >> Judy >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >> http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/