Hi Jane, that doesn't sound like Albuca spiralis which flower when the leaves are dying down. It could be A. hallii which flowers before the leaves start. However, A. hallii is very early for a winter Albuca, blooming for me in early October here in the N. Hemisphere, and is one of the first to sleep (mine went dormant 3 weeks ago). When did your plants get their first water of the season? Maybe they are confused about where they are, did you import them? Are the leaves slightly hairy/downy (spiralis)? If it is A. hallii, NO fertilizer and very good drainage is necessary (pure pumice or equivalent) and as much sun as you can give them. The leaves spiral tighter in more sun. A. hallii doesn't like to freeze, mine are protected on frozen nights, but go down to freezing nearly every night for part of the winter. A. spiralis is more forgiving both with temperature and drainage. Both go dormant once temperatures reach the 80s. Of course, you may have one of the summer-growing species instead. The only one I grow that has flowers before the leaves is A. crispa, but it usually only puts out one leaf at a time, not the octopus arms you described (A. hallii is like that). I'm worried about your plants as A. hallii is difficult at the best of times. Let us know more about the flowers. monica