Try posting this on the BULB forum as well. You may get more responses. Personally, all I had to say was Hmmmm??? Pretty gnarly-looking, huh? :o)

You're making me want to dig up a pot I have of something green (STILL) that looks just like what you're describing. I'm wondering what's under the dirt. I don't remember where the pot came from, just found it out back and it's stayed green all this time. I, too, thought onions or garlic but figured I'd just wait to see what happens this spring.

Good luck !!
bonnie aka brit5467

Hey Genielady, without even looking at the pictures, I'd have to say it sounds like crinum lily. the plant itself is not much to look at but the flowers are beautiful and can perfume an entire room if not the whole house. It was pretty here also. I worked in the front yard this Saturday. Very sunny. It felt good to get my hands dirty. Good luck with the new bed.

Brenda
Harvey, LA

Definitely crinums. The good news is these are some of the finest bulbs for southern gardens (and the most expensive). The bad news is when you dug it up you will have set it back several years from blooming.

The good news is you have an opportunity to divide it! Pull off those offsets so that you'll have more. (or give them to a much-loved gardening friend.)

When you replant them, put them somewhere that they can get sun and plenty of moisture and give them a good 3 feet (diameter) of space around their roots. They get pretty big. Dig a generous amount of composted manure into their hole. Then leave them alone! :)