Ken: Urginea maritima from our Crete expedition are in flower here in NC this week. They were given only minimal irrigation this summer. Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdelights.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Ken Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 12:34 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] Drimia (Urginea) maritima blooming time Hello Andrew, Hmmm ... you may be on to something with the irrigation issue. I provide no additional water after the rains stop here (usually by April) ... but the specimens at both the Huntington and the LA Arboretum in Arcadia clearly are located where they receive supplemental Summertime water. Ken From: AW <awilson@avonia.com> Subject: Re: [pbs] What's blooming now - week of Sept 3, 2011 To: "'Pacific Bulb Society'" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Date: Monday, September 5, 2011, 9:14 AM Well, it's interesting, Ken. A friend in Escondido had them in bloom in July as well. Here is why I ask about timing of bloom in different parts of southern California. My suspicion, yet unproven, is that blooming does not start until after leaves have dried up. When that occurs is, I think, dependent, mainly on how much water, if any, it may have received during summer. Summer temperatures in Pasadena, near the Huntington, are hotter than here in the coastal areas of San Diego. The Huntington waters its grounds in summer, which I rarely do, at least where the Urgineas clump. Summer temperatures are similar to those of Pasadena in Escondido, about thirty miles from the coast in San Diego county. However, at the seldom watered site in Escondido, blooming occurred much earlier, similar but slightly later than occurred here. So, I'd be interested to hear if you, Ken, or others with similar climates, could note the blooming time and whether water in summer had been provided. Andrew San Diego Hi Andrew ... my own, too, also finished blooming in early August, so I was also surprised to see them blooming at the Huntington. I initially though perhaps because they were growing in shade, but I also saw several blooming bulbs at the LA Arboretum in nearly full sun. Perhaps the climatic difference between here (cool coastal San Diego) and there? (warm inland valley) BTW ... back in the beginning of August, I found a new gopher hole and a freshly dead mother gopher immediately next to my bulbs :-). I suspect it took a bite or nibbled on the roots or bulb, known to be a source of rodenticide. I do not like gophers ... and have been battling a new infestation this summer. Ken Blackford San Diego I was surprised to see your shot of Urginea maritima in bloom in September at the Huntington. They finished bloom here in early July. Andrew San Diego