Fred asked, >I too have a question on the viability of lily family seeds. This >spring my Fritillaria Raddeana put up quite a large candelabra of >seeds which I harvested last week. I want to share them with the >group but I don't want to send duds. Since I never harvested seeds >from this species before, I really don't know what I'm looking for. >How does one tell if they're viable? Fritillaria seeds are very easily sorted into viable and nonviable, even if you can't tell the difference visually. Put them in a dish about 2 inches deep, with straight sides (I have a set of porcelain dishes sold as "chili bowls" that are perfect for this), stand outside, and blow very gently on the seeds. The duds will easily take flight out of the bowl, while the good ones remain inside because they're heavier. Fritillaria raddeana produces large, heavy seeds. They are so thick that it may not be possible to see the embryos. Some other species produce smaller, lighter seeds that require more delicate sorting. I don't have any Fritillaria seeds this year, despite having been able to harvest more than 60 kinds last year, because rabbits got into my bulb frames and ate all the flowering stems of this genus and a few others, notably Calochortus. However, the bulbs seem fine, and next year I'll screen off the openings of the frames in fall to prevent this disaster. The plants have only one more season to get through before we all move to a rabbit- and deer-free place! The move will be a huge job, but I look forward to enjoying my bulbs in relative peace. Anybody want to buy ten acres with house, flora -- and fauna? Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA