Dear All, This t o w coincides exactly xith the height of the flowering here. D congestum and Ida Maia are relatively easy to grow and do best under 35% shade netting. D volubilis has been coming back for several years. They are grown in wire baskets and tends to escape to great depth (20-30cm 8-12") where they will survive for years. It is always startling to see the flowering stem creep up to 2-2,5m (7ft) and I always under estimate the height of its support. I agree with Mary Sue that D multiflorus is to be highly recommended because of its larger flattish umbel and long flowering period. Kind regards Lauw Mary Sue Ittner a *crit : > I have seen D. volubile in the wild, but not yet have gotten it to bloom. I > started some from seed in the fall of 1999 and would have expected it to > bloom by now. Maybe next year. Jane says it is found in seeps so maybe I > just need to plant it out in a low part of my garden since I certainly get > the rain where I live. It hasn't been nearly as vigorous as the others for > me. Besides D. ida-maia which is so striking, I think D. multiflorum is my > favorite. It is a really handsome plant and a good cut flower. Years ago I > planted D. congestum in a part of my garden where I had a patch of clay. I > just wanted to see if something that was normally found in clay would like > growing in clay. It bloomed the first year just fine, but the second year > the deer found it and it was slow dwindle from there and I haven't seen any > lately. I have enough offsets now to make some new trials in other parts of > my garden that are decomposed sandstone. -- Lauw de Jager BULB'ARGENCE, 30300 Fourques, France Site: http://www.bulbargence.com/ Région: Provence/Camargue, Climat zone: 9a Mediterranean, dr y July-August, peak rainfall in autumn, minimum temps -3-7°C (28-21F) Reference vegetation: Arbutus unedo, Olea europeaea,