Apologies for not posting more frequently to the list. This winter has been particularly cold (Polar Vortex visited multiple times) and spring has been late in arriving (much of the Great Lakes are still iced over) as evidenced by the following: At Chicago Botanic Garden the last of the snowdrops - Galanthus (G. nivalis and cultivars, G. elwesii, G. platyphyllus, G. caucasicus and G. lagodechianus) Eranthis sp. and Iris reticulata, Iris histrioides, Crocus chrysanthus and Crocus tommasinianus cultivars are fading. Bulbocodium vernum is still at peak as are species and cultivars of Scilla, Chionodoxa, Muscari, Hyacinthus, Crocus vernus, Fritillaria pallidiflora, and x Chionoscilla. The early and some of the midseason Narcissus came into flower last week as have the cultivars of Tulipa kaufmanniana. Corydalis marshalliana, and C. solida are in full bloom. This is the first week we have not had forecast temperatures well below the freezing mark this year. A week ago we set a record at the Garden with an overnight low of 23 degrees F and a daytime high of 36. Fortunately we received 2" of snow which provided some insulation for the bulbs already in flower at that time. To provide context, the Galanthus are normally in flower around the end of February/beginning of March but 6 years ago they were in flower the second week of January. Boyce Tankersley Director of Living Plant Documentation Chicago Botanic Garden USDA zone 5 (closer to 4 the winter of 2014).