I located a source in Vacaville some months ago but did not like the idea of driving over there. Instead I am using Play Ball available in both Napa and Santa Rosa at sprinkler supply companies named Horizon. Al

Al, thank you for the tips. I'll be sure to take the drive to see the Daffs blooming there in the spring... it sounds beautiful! Joe, it is great to know that almost any bulbs will grow here for a season... If they come back, it'll certainly be a bonus. dicot, I can't wait for spring to visit the Point Reyes nat'l seashore and Daffodil hill. They look amazing, and my kids will be thrilled to see such a display too! hosenemesis, thanks for that link and recommendation. I'll check it out. Chad, thanks so much for the specifics. I already had my eye on Amaryllis (had to give away the ones I had in Dallas) and will definitely be getting some others you mentioned. gardenerme, thank you for the website. I've been on it before and they do seem to have good bulbs for warmer climates. I love Erlicheer for their fragrance (and form) and it will be wonderful if they came back. Will definitely be putting some in!

I see this is an old thread! I'm in East/Central Oakland. I planted two Frederick plants in late spring of this year. One I got from Berkeley Horticulture in a gallon pot. It was their last one and looked terrible. The leaves were torn and the vine was sparse. They gave me a discount and said it would improve. The other I got at Oakland Ace Hardware on Grand. It was a 5 gal pot and looked great. The 1 gal pot I planted in some terrible looking dirt next to a chain link fence because it was the only pre-made support and full sun I had at the time. The 5 gal I planted in rich soil along a wooden fence on which I had created a trellis. Initially the 1 gal. did nothing. Any new leaves looked deformed and the plant barely grew. Th 5 gal. took right away and flowered shortly after planting. Within the first couple months a fruit appeared. Then nothing. I used fish emulsion on both. It was not until I dug up around the 1 gal, added some planting mix and bit of gypsum to the soil, and then added plant food, that it took off. Within a couple weeks it had grown by at least 30%. Then it started flowering. After helping it with sexy time (I helped pollinate the flowers), the small plant now has 3 fruits growing and several flowers. The 5 gal has produced many flowers, but other than the first fruit, all have fallen off. I don't know why it hasn't self-pollinated. This week I started helping the big plant to pollinate, so hopefully that does the trick. But the vine itself has also grown at least 30% if not more in the 3 months it's been up. Sorry for the long narrative! I just was out there working in my garden today and so it's all in my head.

Design and Interiors in Mountain View carries Hancock and Moore, but I wouldn't expect their prices to be lower than elsewhere.