November/December is sort of a dull time in the garden, but the 4-color cowslip will get your attention with a startling splash of color. The tubular flowers are lined up with orange, yellow, green & maroon & are quite long lasting. Imagine a cluster of them, oh my! And the two basal leaves are often attractively speckled with purple. Lachenalia is a Winter blooming bulb from South Africa & is very well suited to mild summer dry climates like California. It will naturalize in the ground but is tender to frost. Its small scale, with 6-8” leaves & 8” flower stalks, makes it perfect for a small pot & it can be grown indoors in a cool & bright area. Perfect in a rock garden. Prefers a well-drained soil but has been known to do well in clay also. Avoid watering after it enters Summer dormancy.