Jane wrote: >>I've grown this plant from coastal northern California (which doesn't usually experience the extreme summer drought of the more southern and interior areas) outdoors for many years in the Portland, Oregon, area. Thanks for the correction, Jane. I think you're right, and that probably explains why I've sometimes had trouble maintaining D. ida-maia in smaller pots. The question of how dry bulbs should be in the summer is very tricky. There are definitely many California bulbs that don't want any water. But some others need a bit of summer moisture, especially if the pot or bed stays cool. The North American Fritillaria species are a good example; I have a terrible time maintaining them, probably because my pots get too dry in summer. Mike San Jose, CA