There was a garden here which was worth a detour because in spring the front lawn was covered in Erythronium oregonum, and huge old potted fuchsias would be wheeled out and set around the edge for the summer. The lawn wasn't mowed till the erythronium leaves died back. The fuchsias each had a sign with its date of "birth" on it, and it was interesting for children to see plants that had been growing since before their parents were born. After forty years or so, the owners must have died, because the fuchsias disappeared. The erythroniums lasted a couple of years longer, but the new owners were unaware of the necessity of postponing the mower, and now it is just a plain boring lawn. -- Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8 cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually) sandy soil