REPLY: [pbs] TOW: Bulbs with surprising hardiness
DaveKarn@aol.com (Tue, 09 Sep 2003 18:17:54 PDT)

Hello all ~

I grew L. squamigera and L. sprengeri in Minnesota for many years. And this
in Zone 4a. squamigera always bloomed every August, but sprengeri never did
for me. I now understand that the latter probably wanted considerable water
over the summer months (it got only what fell on it from the occasional
thunderstorm) but squamigera took whatever came its way in stride, including near
total summer dryness. I don't recall where I got the squamigera (they are still
back there and bloom each year) but the sprengeri came from Winterthur. Some
of both are now here in Oregon and perform well each year -- would that I were
able to develop a lycoris with flowers of the solid electric blue that marks
these two as unique.

Since MN has such a severe climate, being able to fool "Mother Nature" was
always great fun. She would occasionally get even by allowing little snow to
fall over the Winter with its well below zero temperatures and that would
usually get the tenderer stuff, even under the mulch.

Best,
Dave Karnstedt
Silverton, Oregon
email: davekarn@aol.com
USDA Zone 7-8