Kat, I have to agree about the regular Pineapple Lilies, they are easier to appreciate in a pot. I still like them, but their subtlety gets lost among so much of the bright, bold color I'm so fond of. With that in mind, I meant to specify Pineapple Lily 'Sparkling Burgundy', or one of the other forms with wine colored foliage. If they're as dark as some of the pictures show, they'd really hold their own! I'd love to combine some with Rex Begonias. My experience with Cannas lately has been the same too. Our soil is rich, but we've had dry summers, and giving them the moisture they need was a pain. In containers, I can do much better. Love those Tropicannas!

Harold, those look like 'Tete a tete', is that right? What zone are you in? That's great to see Daffs that far south, alongside a cactus!

Thanks tc - No, sorry, don't know the name of those mini daffodils. No stick there. Don't even remembery where I got them. Just pleasantly surprised every year when they come back. Don't seem to be multiplying that much either.

I was at Home depot today and couldn't resist a few Tete a tete mini daffodils that were potted up and ready to go.They looked like the ones in HaroldS picture. So cute...

Neal...where do you usually buy your bulbs? I think I bought the Pineapple lilies from a bulb place called Willow Creek? I also bought some Agapanthus and a ton of Dahlias. The Dahlias did so poorly here and it was such a shame as I had such high hopes! The tubors were gorgeous, but the combination of poor soil, really hot weather and a dry season didn't help much. Some bulbs are really difficult here.

Kat

Kat, I get bulbs from several sources, but a couple of my favorite vendors are Brent&Becky's and eflowergarden/Touch of Nature. Another good one for warm climate bulbs is Easy to Grow Bulbs. I've heard others in the deep south having issues with Dahlias too, I understand a lot of varieties aren't suited to the climate. The Georgia Dahlia Society website is said to be the "go to place" for southerners looking for Dahlias. They do prefer good soil too, so it could have been a combination of issues. Do you grow Callas? A lot of Callas have nicely spotted leaves, so they're dramatic even without blooms.

"Harold, those look like 'Tete a tete', is that right? What zone are you in? That's great to see Daffs that far south, alongside a cactus!"

Thank you! I am in zone 9 - Phoenix, AZ Daffodils do great for me, except a friend brought some back from Oregon Fall of 2008 that he found at a y ard sale. Nice big builbs. Planted them, they did very well Spring of 2009, but did not come back up this year. They are/were in a spot where I have very prolific yellow Jonquils that multiply like mad. Don't know.

Harold, Brent&Becky's is a good resource guide for Daffs that perform well in the south. A lot of them won't return well without a lengthy winter chill, but many have been found to perform very well. I'm pretty sure 'Tete a tete' is the variety in your picture- it's pretty distinctive and easily found on the market. It belongs to the Cyclamineus group (well, recently moved to the Miniature group, which contains small varieties from all the other classes), and B&B lists the the Cyclamineus varieties as suited to zones 4-9.

Thanks so much. I just requested a catalog from Brent&Becky.

Went into Walmart today looking for something I was told they carry. Didn't get it, but bought 2 pots of daffodils for $1 each. These are orange cup and yellow petals. Already planted them. The blooms are fading or I'd post a picture.

I have species tulips blooming, Iris Nada, greenhouse grown. .Snowflakes , not snowdrops,crocus various narcissus and Triteleia,plus Hyacinths.

Thanks for the Brent and Becky Info Neal.

I was wondering what to do with Caladiums that have bloomed and are now dormant in the pot.

Caladiums can be kinda slow to wake up in spring, they like for the soil to warm up before growing much. If the pot is in a warm place, you can gradually start giving them a little water, then start fertilizing once sprouts surface. If the soil is cool, they're prone to rot, but I imagine its starting to warm up there, isn't it Kat?

I'm sorry Neal...I must have had Caladiums on the brain because it would be nice to start planting them right now but it's still a little too cool (it is warming up a bit today though...but it's still in the low 40's at night).

I meant to say "Amarylis" duh!

kat i grow amaryllis in my yard. can you do that?

Barb...I'm sure I can. Do you think I should just plant these now or wait for a while?

Ah, Amaryllis should be fine to go on out in the garden there. I'd so love to see big clumps of them in the garden! I hope to find some clearance sale bulbs and do a little hardiness experiment. I've read they can survive zone 6 winters with mulch and protection from a structure, so I want to try some up next to the house (but I'm not willing to chance it with full price bulbs, LOL). Those I keep in the house in winter usually have sent up buds by now, but nothing so far. If they wait till spring, that will be fine with me- hmm....seems they have been getting a little later every year?

Any of you growing Clivia? I was gifted a pup from a friends plant a few years ago and have seen blooms once from it- beautiful! Last year I found a yellow one at Lowes discounted to $5- if you've ever priced those, you can imagine the happy dance I did right there in the aisle, LOL. It has a bloom stalk now! Now, if I could just find one of the variegated forms cheap...yeah, I know, fat chance, LOL...but it never hurts to hope

Thanks Neal...

Sound's like somebody at Lowes didn't know too much about the price of Clivia these days! Good for you!

I grow Clivia. Wow, what a deal, Neal! I think I paid $200 for my first yellow one. That was back when I had money to burn!

Hi all! Thanks Neal, for starting this forum Will be a good place to exchange ideas on what does well in the south. I grow lots and lots of spring bulbs and have generally had great luck and results.

Welcome aboard Steve! Do you grow any Clivia? I believe they're hardy there?

My yellow one bloomed! I'd forgotten to post a pic here.