It is mid-June, so here is my annual recommendation that bulb fanciers use more members of the family Themidaceae in their gardens. This recent name refers to Brodiaea, Triteleia, Dichelostemma, and a few other American genera formerly in Alliaceae, and before that in Liliaceae. Fortunately they got their own family in time to avoid being tossed into Amaryllidaceae. These species mostly flower in late spring to early summer, forming a bridge (along with Calochortus and Lilium) between the masses of spring bulbs and summer, which in their native communities is mostly flowerless. An outlier is Dichelostemma capitatum, flowering early to mid spring and a great addition to the perennial border; Triteleia hyacinthina is also earlier and very adaptable. The latest western American themid to flower here is Brodiaea californica, a very tall, large-flowered plant that comes in both blue and pink(ish) forms. In flower here today are Dichelostemma ida-maia (Firecracker Flower), Dichelostemma volubile (Snake Lily, a climber), Dichelostemma multiflorum, Brodiaea elegans, Brodiaea coronaria, Brodiaea terrestris (a short one), Triteleia ixioides, Triteleia laxa, Triteleia peduncularis, and Bloomeria crocea. All of them have been hardy in the garden to about 17 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus 8 C). They do well without summer water, but moderate moisture will not kill most of them. The corms should be planted fairly deeply. These are wonderful plants to attract hummingbirds, which I have seen feeding on all but the yellow-flowered ones. D. ida-maia is probably an obligatory hummingbird plant with its tubular scarlet flowers. The others are also pollinated by bees. Long, prostrate basal leaves and mostly tall, bare flowering stems suggest placing themids among other, leafier perennials, grasses, and shrubs, as they in fact grow in nature. The best effect in a border is gained by close grouping. I have a casual sort of steep rock garden in front of the house, and these are the latest of the many bulbs planted at random among the tufts, cushions, and dwarf shrubs. Themids are very easily grown from seed; it's best to leave them in the seed pot for two years because the first-year corms are very small. They have not self-sown excessively for me and do not become weedy by increasing, though some produce numerous offset corms. A few species are available for purchase in Dutch bulb catalogs. Under "Brodiaea" in the current Scheepers catalog I find D. ida-maia (listed as "Brodiaea coccinea," an old synonym), 'Corrina' (a hybrid Triteleia), T. ixioides 'Starlight' (a pale yellow selection), T. laxa 'Silver Queen' (a white form, and who would want one?), 'Pink Diamond' (probably a hybrid between D. ida-maia and D. volubile), T. laxa 'Queen Fabiola' (a typical form), T. 'Rudy' (a selection or hybrid of T. laxa with strongly contrasting median stripes, pretty here today). Most of the commercial stocks are offered under old synonyms or have silly English names given them. I hope this will encourage you to seek out corms (sometimes available from Telos and Illahe nurseries) or seeds (frequently available in botanic garden or NARGS seed lists). Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA