Dear Brian, Like Liz I thought the picture of the mystery plants looked a bit like Scilla (now called Merwilla by some) natalensis too. But I don't grow very many so I don't know what other species look like. The California grown plants bloom in April. However I had this vague memory that when Bill Dijk gave a number of us fresh seed of this in December 1997 we discussed this in the old IBS list and that people had different experiences with this plant so I have just consulted my archives from that time to refresh my memory . Sir Peter Smithers was on that list and was growing his in a container (as my plants get bigger and bigger I wonder about that) as he said it was too cold in Switzerland where he lived to plant them in the ground. He quoted from his book: "Scilla natalensis is a stately creature sometimes two feet high, with a fountain of broad beautifully sculptured leaves from the centre of which arises a spike of uncountable tiny blue flowers. Leaves and then flowers appear in early autumn. At their base is a large fat bulb sitting on top of the earth in the manner of a Hippeastrum - - - - the exact opposite of what we think of as a Scilla. S.natalensis is a reliable as well as elegant pot plant which can be depended on to flower every autumn. It must have a complete rest after the foliage dies down in summer and the protection of a frost free place during its season of growth in autumn and winter. To my eye it is beautiful and it lasts in flower for a considerable time." Bill Dijk wrote from the Jack Hobbs and Terry Hatch book (New Zealand experience therefore) and this is mostly a direct quote so I'll add quotes: "Scilla natalensis from South Africa is a highly desirable species for large gardens. It forms large clumps,and when located among rocks where the huge papery bulbs can be seen, it is very effective. In early summer the pyramidal flower spike emerge and quickly grow to 1 meter or more. They are covered with hundreds of soft powder blue starry flowers, which appear continually for several weeks. The flowers are followed by 40 cm. long grey-green leaves,which often have a purple sheen. Bulbs should be planted with their lower third below soil level in autumn or winter. They multiply slowly, seed is therefore the quickest method of increase. Seed must be absolute FRESH when sown, as old seed does not germinate. It should be sown on the surface or barely covered,and germination will be rapid (7-10 days). Small bulbs will form before winter,at which time they will become dormant,coming into growth again the following Spring. Between 4 and 7 years are required for bulbs of flowering size to develop." Seed sown by me December 1997 bloomed for the first time April 2004 so I guess I was in that time frame. From Bill "Unfortunately bulbs are not fully hardy, they should be grown only in near frost-free, well drained areas, although it can be grown as a special specimen container plant in colder climates,with necessary protection in Winter." There was a man on the IBS list from British Columbia who reported that he had been in the habit of drying off and storing Scilla natalensis through his rather cold and definitely wet winters, but one year left some outside. In spite of temperatures down to -12C (about 10 F.) and flooding, they remained bright green and thriving. He concluded that it appeared they could be considered evergreen in the NW and probably the SE US. When the bulbs were dried off and stored dry over winter they were extremely slow to return to growth and then the leaves did not appear until July. John Ingram gave me a few that he been growing in tiny pots for a long time to try in the ground since I had been reluctant to do so with my surviving container of the Bill Dijk gift in case I lost it with my wet winters and very dry summers. I repotted them in much deeper containers before moving them into the ground to give them a chance to get bigger with regular water and fertilizer and they immediately appreciated that and began to grow rapidly. I put a couple of them in the ground last winter and they did just fine, but are now beginning to look very ratty and drying back. The pictures Liz put on the wiki of the huge bulbs they have at the UC Botanical garden shows them definitely dormant in winter, not evergreen. So there you have it. Once again there is more than one way to grow the same species. Mary Sue