Dear Lauw, your observation is right. Many years the autumns rains come very late here and summer extends for all October, but the Sternbergia come up just because the night temps are cooler. However, when good rainfalls happen in September the flowering is much showy and rich, as the plants have time to send out roots before to flower. Jim, you have a good sense of humor ! I didn't know you were so deep in the intricated world of Italian suffixes !! The word for 'little spring' doesn't exist, as it's just my creation. Anyway, in the case we would use 'Primaverina' :-) Angelo