Hi Barbara: We've had Leucojum autumnalis (or Acis) in our Rock Garden for a couple of years. The winter of year before last was colder than average with no snow cover. This last winter has also been colder than average but we kept around 4" of snow from January 1 through the first week of March. Spring did not arrive until mid-April. The Leucojum autumnalis flowered very well last fall and foliage is up and looking perky this spring. Overnight low was 28 degrees F at the Chicago Botanic Garden (closer to Lake Michigan than the Tankersley household in Grayslake). Boyce Tankersley btankers@chicagobotanic.org -----Original Message----- From: Barbara Weintraub [mailto:blweintraub1@earthlink.net] Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 8:02 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: [pbs] Re: Leucojum/Acis autumnale and Lewisia Hi All, Jane writes: >In other words, USDA Zone 5 (average winter lows down to minus 20 F) is >not a likely garden home for any them, but if snow cover is VERY reliable, >you might try L. autumnale, which is very cheap to buy. I have just planted L. autumnale for the first time in hopes that the little clump of seedlings will build up enough energy to flower and then make it through the winter with protection. I have found that some plants that are commonly expected to die in our climate, don't, and that some that are expected to thrive, don't. Thus, I've become more of an experimental gardener over time. I'll let you know in a year how this species does.