Well, with our severely cold (stayed at 0 for 2 months straight with out defrosting), I can report the following successes: Agapanthus - common CA blue form survived for sure in 2 separate locations without any protect or benefit of micro-climes. They are in raised beds of topsoil that drain fairly quickly. The first one is located on the SW (windward) side of a bed in the front yard and the second is in the rose garden and not raised much but the soil is basically 5 years of decomposed mulch. The soil is nearly black and very rich. This bed stays pretty moist year-round even during the toughest droughts. Both beds are under a sprkinler system. Dahlias - 'Cafe au Lait', 'Bishop of Llandoff', 'Karma Fuschiana', and another cv from Van Bourgondien. All of them made it through the winter just fine. These are on the S. wall of the bedroom and the bed stays pretty dry close to the house all summer but I will be changing the sprinklers to make sure they get more water this year. Crinum - 'Olene', 'Regina's Disco Lounge' (both from Plant Delights) and of course powellii. The powellii is is more of a protected area and is already 6" tall. The others I found by planting around them and finding the new sprouts just coming out of the soil. The first two are in a raised moist bed by the drive (I call it "Regina's bed". She is my niece and she was there when I started it and told her she had to take care of it but she is only 3 so, a heavy weeding and fertilization regime is not in the near future from her lol.). It stays pretty moist in the summer also since it is right next to a sprinkler and I try to keep the large plants to the back away from the sprinkler so as to keep it all wet as possible. Canna - I left a few in the eh ground just to see. Well, they are all mush. I have heard from people that they overwinter in their yards here but I have not had such luck. Crocosmia - 'Emily McKinzie' has most really done too well but they are planted in an area next to the barn that gets blocked in late summer from spray from the sprinklers and the soil is pretty heavy clay and may not drain as much as necessary. 'Lucifer' is going just fine. 'Norwich Canary' is planted in several soil types from pure sand, pure clay, and good loam from composted mulch over the years. It really has not put out a big show since planted 2 years ago. There are a few sprouts coming out but it is less than what they came as in the 1 gallon containers. 'George Davidson' same as 'Norwich Canary' Crocus sativus seems to be increasing nicely and growth is really nice right now. Frittilaria 'Prolifera' did not come back. It is in the same bed as Crinums from Tony. Glads - none have sprouted as yet and I have not dug in the areas they are at just yet but I am sure they will come back. Iris bucheriana - a nice clump has come up. I planted one packet from a local nursery last fall and I don't think there was more than 5 or 6 bulbs but the whole mass is about 1' across. I am very happy about this. I guess it likes the loam it is on. Mulching every spring really is paying off. I have a hair brain idea that I will mulch the beds with peat moss and mix it into the mulch from last year before the crew puts down this years. I really want to replenish the nutrients that the mulch removes each year. And I really don't fertilize that much so I need to get on to that. I might also top everything in the fall with a light layer of composted manure too. Iris Louisiana mix from Wayside has taken over and I am not sure if they even bloom any more. My uncle can't tell me what they look like. All I know is that there are a heck of a lot of rhizomes out there that need to be thinned. Anyone in the Akron/Canton area that would like some, feel free to contact me. I am open to trades if you have extras but a good home is all they need. Otherwise, they will be distributed to the rest of the family and then go out to the field as compost/naturalization material. Iris pallida (both aurea- and albo-variegata are there). They are slowly increasing and doing well. I just can't get enough of these. I'm a sucker for variegated leaves and the light blue really fragrant flowers are just great. They are planted everywhere (I probably have well over 40 of them) but the best location is right next to the back patio. They can fill the area with their fragrance on a warm day, perfect for sitting out there and reading or chatting. Iris ensata variegata - another beautiful leaf. I don't know what color these are as they bloom after I leave each spring. But again, LOVE IT! Ipheion uniflora - blooming as we speak. I will distribute the bulbs around to fill other areas of the bed. I know they are "prolific" but they are so cute. I have brought a few nice clumps of 'Alberto Castillo' to try here also. I'll put these in the bed around the back patio. I hope they increase as well here as they do in LA. Iris spuria - I have a few of these around the main perennial bed in the back. They seem to be splitting and producing an extra fan each (after 2 years). I don't know if they have flowered yet or not. I hope they will flower soon. I shipped one to myself in LA to test it there. Someone on the iris list suggested that they love the dry heat of So. Cal. So, I'll try anything once (or twice, or thrice). Iris ensata cvs. are all increasing nicely. I don't know how often to divide them but they seem to be happy so I will leave them. I have found a few stray seedlings that have volunteered. Since I love all the varieties I have (or rather my aunt and uncle rave about them), I will leave them go to see what happens. I ordered more Japanese and Sib. from Ensata Gardens this year to increase the areas they are growing in. Sib. iris - they are finally coming back after my major %#*@-up a few years ago. I put a good handful of lime on all my iris except the Jap. So, the sibs shrunk but seem to be increasing slightly this year. I will be adding a little leaf mold mulch on them to help them back. Lilies - I just can't get enough of lilies. I get more every year. I have nice growth so far on the regals, 'Leslie Woodruff' (both planted last fall), and a few of the formossanum. Just starting to emerge are all the 'Stargazer's and not a sign of my beautiful pride and joy - 'Casablanca'. I counted 18 flowers on one stem last year. They are mixed in with some 'Stargazer's and a few nice perennials (Hosta 'Patriot', Peony 'Karl Rosenfelt', Penstemmon 'Huskers Red', variegated strawberry, and all near a small 'Tricolor' purple beech which has a beautiful neon pink edge to the new leaves). 'African Queen' is finally putting out nice growth. They have been rather dumpy the last 2 years and don't really flower well. I'm not sure but I think it is the fact that it is in really bad clay soil with no food. Lilies I added this year include: 'Copper Crown', 'Reverie', 'Peach Butterflies', 'White Butterflies', leucanthemum, 'Allegretto', 'Angela North', 'Claude Shride', 'Golden Stargazers', and more 'Stargazer' (just can't get enough). Lycoris are all up and doing well except radiata. They are just starting to emerge for some reason. I have brought more from home and will be adding another species as a test - aurea. The others I have right now chinensis, squamigera, longituba, and sprengerii. Peonies are all doing well. The only doubt I have is the one in the area where my uncle put down the pre-emergent for the thistles. The growth goes off at a 90 degree angle at a 1' off the ground. This really has ne wondering how safe those things are that are labeled safe for perennial beds. To be continued ===== John Ingram jjingram@adelphia.net Floralartistry2000@yahoo.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/… http://www.geocities.com/floralartistry2000/ http://photos.yahoo.com/floralartistry2000/