Our winter up here in Alberta was so mild as to be almost non-existent. When I saw a robin the other day I had to wonder if they had actually left. Nothing showing any signs of growth except a doronicum, I was hoping that some of the early bulbs, crocus, muscari, frits, scilla would be showing something. As I see the spring thaw set in I now wonder if I'll have any bulbs at all. We were told there were natural springs in the hill but really did not give it much thought at the time. I was hard pressed to get everything in the ground from our move. A large portion (almost all) of the bulbs went in behind the retaining wall that starts the beginning of our hill and back yard. Actually our yard is somewhat similar to John Lonsdale's, in slope at any rate. As 'winter' progressed here, we could see the retaining wall being pushed forward, it's only landscaping ties and 4x4's holding back the entire yard. And from the looks of it, probably not done correctly in the first place. Looking for signs of growth I'm instead greeted with standing water in a slew of mud. The water is dripping out between the stairs and the ties, it is almost a flow! We definitely have our work cut out for us taming this new yard. I do fear for my bulbs though, I wonder if anything will survive that muck? Linda Foulis Okotoks, AB Canada Zone 3 Foothills of the Rockies Where I am anxiously waiting to see what has survived the first winter after our move and not having a clue where anything is!