In 2003 we attended the MGS AGM in Tuscany which took in a visit to Florence. We kept saying we'd go back one day on our own to spend more time there and in the surrounding area. Eventually we made it, can't remember exactly how long ago (the memory isn't what it used to be) but the hotel we stayed in had a beautiful bush of Calycanthus floridus in the garden, in flower. It immediately became number 1 on Thea's WANT ONE list. Over the years we've tried to acquire one but never succeeded in getting a plant strong enough to establish. Recently we found another very small plant and nursed it through the hot summer, giving it it's own shade canopy. In the winter it lost all its leaves and we have been examining it minutely, ever since the weather began to warm up, for signs of life. Glad to say it is showing a bit of green and hopefully will become stronger this year with some TLC. Fingers crossed.