I don't recall mentioning any early-August-blooming Colchicum cultivars. I did tantalize Jim Shields with visions of Colchicum graecum blooming then, but I must confess that I have no idea whether it actually would for him. It (or at least something posing quite convincingly as it) does bloom in early to mid-August in at least one garden of my acquaintance (in Oregon, incidentally). From the evidence of corms received in mid-August here, it is obviously well into growth at that time in other gardens as well. It tickles me that I apparently get to enjoy the first flush of colchicums weeks before Jane does. I have always envied those who garden in the Great Northwest, but perhaps we in this locality are more highly favored than I formerly thought. Regarding John Lonsdale's comments, as a purveyor of colchicums it has been my impression that it is heat, not cool, that accelerates colchicum bloom. We always cool them down to slow them down (nothing more dispiriting than several hundred colchicums blooming in their trays rather than in customers' gardens). The Colchicum bivonae 'Apollo' I mentioned as being in bloom is well established in a pot, which means it probably stays warmer than those in the ground. Of course, it would also sense changes in ambient temperature more readily. Russell At 10:15 AM 9/9/2003 -0700, you wrote: >I was surprised to find, among the many e-mails waiting when I returned >from a long weekend in California, mention by Russell Stafford in Michigan >of certain Colchicum cultivars blooming in early August. Russell Stafford Odyssey Bulbs 8984 Meadow Lane, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103 269-471-4642 http://www.odysseybulbs.com/