Dear All, Congratulations to Fred for getting his Nerine not only to survive, but to bloom in the ground in Massachusetts. Well done. I've said this before, but when I participated in the bulb rescue I had very poor luck at first with most all of my Nerines except for one that looks more like a species. It has been my most reliable bloomer, but usually has only one scape of small pink flowers. This year it has three vigorous ones. Tag says (Wombe X Carmenita) Harold Koopowitz gave us some instructions. One was not to plant in the ground. I had more than I wanted to put in pots so I did try two in the ground. I've seen the leaves, but they have never flowered so I think I have proved Harold was right. We've talked about growing Nerines in the past on this list. I'd like to refer any of you who were not part of this list when Nerine was the topic of the week to review Hamish Sloan's very excellent introductions. He really covered it well and with such obvious affection for this genus. http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/… http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/… Following Hamish's advice of making sure the soil does not dry out completely in summer as then the buds abort sounds like what Arnold is doing. When I left mine completely dry once they went dormant only a couple would bloom. This year after leaving mine in the greenhouse to protect from our excessive wet winters and leaving them in the greenhouse to provide some warmth in summer and watering every couple weeks during dormancy eight of eleven are blooming or going to bloom. The other three could still bloom since they usually bloom in October, but even if they don't, it is still more success than I have ever had! So many of us have learned not to let them dry out completely in summer!!! If I could use html I'd underline that last statement. Also blooming right now are Nerine humilis, Nerine platypetala and Nerine angustifolia. And I have buds on Nerine bowdenii and my Nerine undulata x flexuosa (all one species now so probably not a cross anymore). At least this year I can say I am now having better luck with this South African amaryllid than any of the others. I've rotted a number of my Cyrtanthus, but it is my second most successful genus. C. sanguineus is blooming at the moment and it is so beautiful. One of my rescue bulbs which is red had a broken tag. I could only read part of two words: Bett.. Hud.. Does anyone know what the cultivar name should be? And Bob and I are rejoicing in seeing Bessera elegans in bloom for the first time. Wow! I got some from Diana Chapman. Year number one they bloomed when we were out of the country. Jana Ulmer took pictures for the wiki. Year number two they didn't come up. Year number three one came up and the first bloom opened yesterday. Mary Sue Mary Sue Ittner California's North Coast Wet mild winters with occasional frost Dry mild summers