The big floral ball Allium are beginning to bloom in the garden now. This term “floral ball” I picked up from a 1960s catalog from Delkins Bulbs, my source for some of my first acquisitions in this group. I still have these and to this day am unsure what to call them. They were sent under the name Allium rosenbachianum. They are perhaps Allium stipitatum. Two other Allium events have provided lots of excitement during the last few days. For one, Allium triquitrum is blooming here for the first time. Why it took me so long to try this species I can’t explain, but it’s good to have it now. The other Allium excitement was major. I had been invited to judge a rock garden in the Pittsburg, PA area yesterday. That’s a four hour + drive from home. The plants on exhibit included a few which made the drive worthwhile, but in my view one stood out above the rest: a pan of dozens of blooming Allium perdulce. The fragrance was wonderful. Mark’s glowing account of this species on the wiki is completely justified. On the horizon: some late planted bulbs received under the names Allium neapolitanum and Allium cowanii have produced plants with distinct foliage. So expect a continuation of last year’s discussion of the neapolitanum-cownaii controversy. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, 39.03871º North, 77.09829º West, USDA zone 7, where the oven birds are back. 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/