In commenting on Alstroemeria which have done well for her as garden plants, Jane wrote " I don't grow A. pulchella (syn. A. psittacina) but it's in some sheltered Portland gardens." Alstroemeria pulchella/psittacina has been growing outside near the house foundation in my Maryland garden for decades. It blooms and sets viable seed yearly. It fills a patch of about two or three square feet, and the last time I looked (a few days ago) it was still in full leaf. While we are on the topic of Alstroemeria, I'll ask again a question which I've asked in the past without eliciting a serious response. Does anyone know why the leaves of Alstroemeria are carried upside down? And please, o witty ones, no cracks about the explanation being that it's due to their growing in the southern hemisphere. Jim McKenney Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7