After returning home from the very enjoyable PBS get-together in the San Francisco Bay Area (thank you Nhu and all involved!) I was greeted by emerging buds from two of my Summer-growing Boophone disticha. I was busy cross-pollinating this AM, but needed a break since close work with these blooms does give me both sore eyes and a headache. The sweet fragrance on a this still, humid morning under marine clouds, is pleasant ... until you get close, at which point it smells to me more like a pesticide. Here are a few links to shots on Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/amarguy/… http://flickr.com/photos/amarguy/… here is a shot of the new foliage on two of the non-blooming Summer-growers: http://flickr.com/photos/amarguy/… and finally ... emerging new growth on a cross between Winter-growing Boophone disticha and Summer-growing Boophone disticha. The foliage of all the siblings of this same cross appears to be almost evergreen for me ... last year's leaves only declining with the emergence of the new Spring foliage: http://flickr.com/photos/amarguy/… Ken Blackford San Diego USDA zone 10 where our normal May-Gray/June Gloom layer of low marine clouds and fog seems to have returned right on schedule.