Whilst I’ve been collecting dry climate bulbs for forty odd years it was only when Criss and I made our dry climate garden that I could see a way to use them as garden plants. Before that I’d grown these “Buried Treasures” in rows in dedicated bulb beds. Although many of the bulbs listed in our catalogue are not readily available, none are difficult to grow in those parts of Australia which get dry summers and coldish winters. Some will do well in Melbourne but most are happier inland. All the bulbs are frost hardy here at Lambley. Temperatures regularly fall below -5C and we can get frost from mid April until mid November even into December on odd occasions. I plant most of them in the same space as herbaceous perennials, that is per­ennials that are summer dormant, or under very low growing plants such as hardy ornamental thymes and prostrate artemisias. The pleasure, the joy these garden jewels give is immense. No matter the weather I’m out in the garden many times a day to look at them. Janis Ruksans book “Buried Treasures” is an inspiring “Boy’s Own” adventure story detailing trips the author made to Central Asia and Turkey looking for bulbs. Ruksans also writes about his experience in growing the bulbs he has collected. This is a gardening book written by someone who gardens and is the best read since Christopher Lloyds “Well Tempered Garden”. Florilegium Bookshop in Sydney stocks the Ruksans book. They have a postal service.