I took the advice in Jane's article last year and planted C. graecum in a raised bed I was working over. After being dormant all summer, it started showing leaves about a month ago. I live at the southwest foot of Mt. Cuyamaca in the Cleveland National forest of southern California. I have had chilly, very windy days, and frost a few nights. We even had a heavy, heavy rain about two days ago. Receiving one or two heavy rains is typical in our mid-fall after a very dry summer. We probably won't get more until Feb. or March, if the normal pattern holds. Some hardy perennials (penstemons, diascia, salvias) are still showing a few blooms outside for the late hummers, although most of those have wisely flown south. Jane McGary wrote: > and C. graecum outdoors. > >