Judy, et al, I grow two Sternbergia here in northern Massachusetts, out in the garden. Both are grown on small enbankments on the south (warm) side of the house in full sun, and flower beautifully. Sternbergia lutea is growing in clay/loam amended with some sand, on the southerly facing base of a rose-of-sharon shrub (hibiscus syriacus cultivar). I plant bulbs around the bases of deciduous shrubs, with the theory that the shrub roots take up much of the summer moisture, allowing the bulbs to dry out properly. So far, this technique has worked very well. This Sternbergia species has handsome shiney green strap-like foliage that remain amazingly evergreen in spite of ice and snow through the winter. The late autumn flowers are glorious. Sternbergia fischeriana is a beautiful species. Buds might show in very late autmun/early winter in mind autumns, but they don't open until early spring here. The flowers are very large, and the glaucous foliage attractive and narcissus-like. This species is grown in a very sandy soil amended with some leaf humus, and seems easy enough to grow. Picture link at: http://www.plantbuzz.com/Buzz/im_stern_id.htm I'm north of you, so these should be doable in your climate. Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5 ============================================== >> web site under construction - http://www.plantbuzz.com/ << alliums, bulbs, penstemons, hardy hibiscus, western american alpines, iris, plants of all types!