>It has gone through -20 F here. We routinely get from 0F to -5 F every >winter (this one included). >Why is it hardy? Either your Viking theory is true or “Nature is weird”. 0 to –5F? Practically Florida. The first frost here—the first frost—was a drop from 17C to –25C in about 30 hours, in November. With snow cover, though. (Many conifers, cacti, supposedly-hardy agaves, etc., showed how unevolved they were; i.e., by dying or being severely damaged. There are actual scientific reasons for the failures of these plants, but that’s another story altogether.) When the snow melted, which it did in a few days, bulbs whose foliage *never experiences temperatures like this in their native habitats* (ie, Crocus niveus), were unfazed. Bob Nold Denver, Colorado who is going to plant all the seedlings of Levantine oncocyclus iris out in the garden, with no fear. _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/