Bob Werra asked: Regarding bulb fertilizing, I have a naive question. Does regular fertilization shorten bulb or corm life? Bob, your question made me think two things at once. First of all, here's an equally naïve answer: there are cultivated clones of Tulipa which have had regular fertilization literally for centuries - and it hasn't killed them yet. So I think it's safe to say, as a broad generalization, that fertilization does not necessarily shorten bulb life. But here's another thought: I've been thinking about this question of fertilizing bulbs a bit lately, and this idea popped up: why not see what the experts, the real experts whose livelihood depend on the results, have to say about it. I have not yet tracked down the experts, but for starters I'm considering USDA publications on onion culture and Easter lily culture. Those are both bulbs, and in the case of onions, bulbs in the big business sense. I'll bet there are plenty of studies which have determined precisely when those bulbs need fertilization and just what nutrients they need when. What follows is slightly off topic. Don't blame me for the dieresis on the word naïve (if your email program displays it). That's another Microsoft editorial effort, and it's one I don't like. Don't they know how the word is really pronounced in English: neigh eve' is what I hear, as if the word were spelled naiive. In other words, we're all mispronouncing it anyway. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@starpower.net Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where I enjoyed the first chervil of the season with this morning's eggs.