Dear friends, Wednesday morning the 3/12 the Rhone bank has broken at 300 m of our nursery. Waterlevel reached 230cm (8ft) in our house and after having saved the maximum we retreated to the first floor. My family was secured by helicopter on thursday afternoon. Fridaynight I was able to leave the house with my dog and reach dry land by foot. My family, office etc is now installed with friends in a neighbouring village Fontveille. Waterlevel decended on saterday sufficiently to see the damage. The view is an apocalyps. The strong current during 48hrs has collected every thing in a great heap. There are 1-2m high "sand drifts" in the garden, barn and the nursery and virtually all boxes, pots, and raised beds are covered with 50-100cm of loam. The shade hall is intact but the boxes are partly covered with debris and mud. The plastic tunnel has been flattened. In the house and the packing store everything is on the ground and covered by 30cm of mud. The harddisc and the main computer has neen saved and a new office is workinng with my secretary and collaborator Marja allready in action. A field of 2 ha with a stock of more curent bulbs only had 50cm of water and no current. This field is now drying out and we should be able to start shipping by the middle of january.But is it the wintergrowing collection which is in great danger. When the sludge dry out we will try to uncover the the plants before rotting starts. On the Image list I will attach an a 'cartoon 'made by a friend to 'remonter le moral' I will keep you informed. Kind regards Lauw de Jager Bulb'Argence Mas d'Argence chez Boutière 'Les Olivades, 13990 Fontveille France tel 31(0)490 548 201 fax 0490 910 081 http://www.bulbargence.com/ Email: dejagerzbulbargence.com