From: Dennis Kramb <dkramb@badbear.com>
Reply-To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [pbs] Manfreda virginica
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 17:06:31 -0400

I'm on the fringes of its native range, but I've thought it such an oddity
that I've wanted to grow it ever since I first learned of this species. I
think I obtained seeds through NEWFS, and I planted them in my regular
garden bed where only a few germinated. One has survived but it languished
amongst the weeds. Last year I prepared a rock garden and transferred it
there. I watched it through the winter as it struggled to stay green,
losing almost all its leaves. This spring it appears extremely robust with
its leaves growing bigger & fatter than I've ever seen, and it has many
pups forming around its base with equally robust growth. I think it
appreciates its new home amongst the gravel & rocks, free from competition
from weeds, growing in nearly full sun. Surely it will reward me with some
blooms??

Dennis in Cincinnati