Tony Avent wrote: "All of the Acidanthera/Gladiolus that we've ever grown flowers very late here...early-mid October." That's surprising to me, Tony, because plants growing here bloom much earlier than that, and you've got us beaten in the heat department. And plants in containers (big tubs) bloom before plants in the ground. They're usually blooming sometime in August here. They bloom early enough to ripen seed easily. The plants I'm describing are grown from corms which are dug annually and stored at room temperature. By the time I plant them they usually have sprouts an inch or two long. Are you describing plants left in the ground? Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where winter is relaxing its grip for a few days. My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/ Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/ Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/