Susan asked "Jim, do I understand correctly you had these rootstocks outside, exposed to cold air and snow?? Didn't they freeze??" The weather has been relatively mild here so far, at least until earlier this week. We had freezes earlier, but only light ones. The Eremurus were exposed to the air, but right against the house wall - it probably didn't freeze there, or if it did not by much or for long. Earlier this week, when heavy freezes were predicted, I put them into the cold frame. So it's unlikely that they froze ever, and they never had snow on them (although I can't imagine that snow would hurt them). I think I've read that in the early part of the twentieth century it was usual for Eremurus to be supplied early in the year in the American trade. Presumably slow transportation (the plants back then were probably largely wild collected) made it difficult to supply them in the autumn. I doubt if they got the best of care during the long transport. Incidentally, the Eremurus which sprouted in the late fall last year (and then went on to bloom spectacularly) has so far remained under ground this year. I checked it a few weeks ago - the sprout had not enlarged much, and I suspect that it will not bloom next year. But we'll see. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where Iris unguicularis continues to bloom. My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/ BLOG! http://mcwort.blogspot.com/ Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/ Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/