I think sunshine and the amount of light are big factors in when things bloom. Like Jane I still have Brodiaea in bloom (elegans, californica, purdyi) and Bloomeria too, at least a few flowers left. We had a lot of rain where I live this year and late rain as well. So there was not as much light and warmth and therefore everything was late in starting. We haven't had much really hot weather either so that means that once the native bulbs started blooming they lasted longer. So I think it was more than just the soil being moist which you could achieve by watering. But if it helps, I live at about 840 feet (256 meters) with a distant view of the Pacific Ocean. Being coastal is a major factor in my climate. And the Gladiolus tristis in bloom is one that always blooms in summer. I grow other Gladiolus tristis that bloom in spring and also are long gone. I have a lot of Amaryllis belladonna that never flowers even though I live in an area where you see a lot of it blooming every year. I have a lot of trees in my garden and I don't think many of the plants get enough light and they also may not get enough summer water. I know that may sound strange, but when we've discussed this before people have said that they bloom better with some summer water. We do water a bit, but the tree roots are very greedy when it comes to summer water and the soil remains dry. Where you see them naturalizing and blooming reliably, it is usually very open. Bill Welch may want to speak up on this subject, but I seem to recall him saying that hybrids especially needed some summer water to do well. Mary Sue > Flowers that Mary Sue and Jane report in bloom now (Bloomeria > crocea, Gladiolus tristis) are long since dormant here, with the last of >their seed pods drying out and cracking open. >Mary Sue's about 200 miles north of me, and Jane is 500 miles.