Rodger wrote, >We have a great many feral narcissus here and they host narcissus >flies in huge numbers. Many cultivars disappear in one year. I've >taken to growing my favorites in large pots and putting these in the >shade one the flowers are over. The narcissus fly does not seem to >attack bulbs in the shade. I was told this many years ago and it seems to work for me, too -- plant narcissus in shade. I have colonies of naturalized cultivars of various kinds that have not diminished in almost 20 years in shade. However, certain kinds, such as 'Ice Follies' and the 'Little Beauty' early miniature types also persist in full sun. I think the latter may ripen their foliage early, since they are early bloomers. I've been told that it is either the color or the scent of the withering leaves that attracts the bulb fly, and I've never seen bulb flies here until quite late in spring, since the soil remains cold most springs. Curiously I did not see (or hear, which is how one usually spots them) any bulb flies around the frames this year, but I bet they were out looking at some point. The past couple of years I've been covering my more precious pot-grown bulbs -- not just narcissus but also Sternberia and Galanthus -- with Reemay (nonwoven row cover) after flowering. This product is very cheap and can be tucked around the edge of the plunged pots. You could also use it in the garden with metal pins, though it would be unsightly. This prevents the flies from landing on the plants and laying their eggs, and doesn't require a pesticide applicator's license, either. Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA