Ehrlicheer is banned from the house due to fragrance, as well as falconet. I like them both in the garden but in the house it's too much for me. But keep in mind that I don't like paperwhites either - I just wanted to mention my two most fragrant!

Thanks for sharing that Fledgling...fascinating reading! I don't put up feeders for the hummers here, most seem content enough to feed on all the flowering plants I provide. One particular fellow has come back (at least I believe it is the same one) for about 3 years to the ivy geranium/scavaeola planted hanging baskets I have on the garage. Frankly, I'm ready for a new planting scheme for those baskets. Every winter I dream up a new scheme for them, but when spring finally arrives, I feel so guilty about changing the planting on my little hummer friend that I end up putting the same old planting back in anyway...just can't disappoint the fellow...LOL! Re the topr...I remember reading something about that. Isn't topr what also allows birds to survive in cold, wintery climates such as mine? Resin...I enjoyed your link too! I have never heard of a Godwit (cute little fellow) and honestly I thought you were making that name up...LOL! I'm going to have to do a websearch and see if I can't find pics of sunbirds...I've never heard of them either. Nature is truly amazing! Thanks guys for sharing. I hope Coniferfreak gets to see what's been posted. I'm sure she would enjoy it. P.S. Thanks Tcharles about the hibiscus. I did plan to make cuttings. Was wondering if you knew which technique would work better; dipped in rootone and the struck into the soil or rooted in water? I've always had amazing success with rooting coleus in water and it's a great way to carry them over since a juice glass of water is much smaller than a pot and allows me to grow many more cuttings in my garden window. Was wondering if I could grow hibisucs cuttings in water? Eileen

The downside , to some, is that they are only hardy in zones8, 9, and 10, unless one just grows them indoors. Most bulbs after being forced, and I'm thinking this one is being forced, take a year or two to recover before 'maybe' blooming again. I wonder then if they would just be a one time deal when forced to bloom. Here is a link that might be useful: 10 for $7.95

I've found Erlicheer to be hardy enough for z6 and maybe 5 but unfortunately like you've seen, it sprouts too early and can't take the ups and downs of a real winter. The growth dies back and then finally one winter a real cold snap will kill it all. A warm microclimate might actually hurt your chances. Keeping it in a cooler spot might hold it back.... but mine died out in the open garden so that's only a maybe suggestion. Another option might be that you dig the bulbs after the foliage dies back and store the bulbs somewhere warm and dry all summer. Either plant them real late in the fall just before things freeze or real early spring and it might work. ....or try a different one. I'd say Geranium or its double version Sir Winston Churchill, both are perfect here in z6 and very fragrant. Some jonquils such as hillstar or pipit are also fragrant, but they come up early as well and look terrible some springs when there's a midwinter thaw to get them going. another early growing, but later flowering jonquilla 'Kokopelli' with freeze damage on the leaf tips. geranium. One of my favorites, maybe it can be your new erlicheer even if it's not quite as fragrant.