Crocus November 2008

[ranunculus]

And NO, Mr Buttercup. I'm not into slug-washing.

Only slug-squashing ... they sound the same after a Guinness or three. 

[mark smyth]

Great collection!

While at Wisley a few weeks back I bought some Crocus pulchellus corms. These have turned out to be wrong. They are speciosus. One of them is very nice. It is white with cream outer petals. Is this normal?

The photos are poor because it's so dull here today

[Martin Baxendale]

Mark, the pale one has white anthers and a yellow throat, so either pulchellus or a pulchellus/speciosus hybrid. The close-up of the blue one shows a yellow throat, so again possible pulchellus/speciosus hybrid. Could be that there was some seeding around near a patch of pulchellus that was close to some speciosus.

[mark smyth]

I just had a look. All but one heavily veined flower have yellow flushed throats ranging from a hint to quite yellow.

These are Dutch supplied

[Martin Baxendale]

I just had a look. All but one heavily veined flower have yellow flushed throats ranging from a hint to quite yellow.

These are Dutch supplied

They're nice looking, strong plants with bold flowers seemingly sturdy weather-proof stems and obviously good for late colour. A good buy, I'd say. Bet they increase well too. Hybrid vigour?

[mark smyth]

I hope so especially the white one. There were 10 in the packet, filled by Wisley staff, and not one pulchellus. I didnt take any notice of these until the white one came up. I hope the other bulbs bought are correct.

[Janis Ruksans]

Crocus November-2008 in Latvia
We here have very dark and wet November. We had heavy snowstorm for two days and I was blocked in my nursery but all the time weather are cloudy and rainy. I got some additional reticulata iris and tulip bulbs - planting of them outside was real nightmare - allways thinking how to make next step without leaving my rubber boots in pass between beds. Of course picturing of autumn crocuses in greenhouse wasn't easy, too. Every day dark clouds, wetness and crocus blooms didn't open. I used each sunny moment to catch few pictures some of which I'm attaching here. Greatest joy I got from first bloom of Crocus nerimaniae (sorry, 5-petalled only). To get it I closed all windows and doors to rise up temperature a little and in afternoon it opened. Another surprise was Crocus which I got as "pallasii" but it seem to be cartwrightianus but it is closing flowers for night. Originally collected on Chios island (Greece) and named 'Homeri' by great ancient Greek poet Homer. Note black anthers (black colour in crocuses is my "weakness" point).
I was in Greece, too - just for autumn Crocus pictures. A little too late, but I got a lot of nice shots. About those next time.
Janis

Crocus cartwrightianus Homeri -01
 Crocus cartwrightianus Homeri -02
 Crocus laevigatus Pelopones -09
 Crocus melantherus BM-8033 -04
 Crocus nerimaniae R2CV-019 -04

[art600]

Janis

Beautiful Crocus - especially like the cartwrightianus 'Homeri'.   

[t00lie]

A warm welcome to the forum Janis.

All of the Crocus are lovely.

Just finished reading your book 'Buried Treasures'--what a 'cracker' of a read.

Cheers dave.

[Gerry Webster]

Janis - I can only echo Art, 'Homeri' is stunning.

[Paul T]

Welcome Janis.  Great to have you with us.  I too love the 'Homeri', and like you I like black in flowers, particularly if the whole flower is black!    Of course, I am thinking outside of Crocus here.    Now a black Crocus..... that would be rather different.

Again, welcome and great to have you here.

[Anthony Darby]

Welcome from me too Jānis. Quite an 'entrance' with some beautiful pics. I too like 'homeri' but melantherus and nerimaniae are also quite special and will make a note for next year's catalogue.

[Armin]

Janis - welcome to this forum.
Great stuff you show us, "Homeri" is a stunner

[Lesley Cox]

A very warm welcome Janis, to the best plant Forum in the world. You are SOOOO welcome. And a million thanks for your fabulous book "Buried Treasures." I would like it to be the first of several volumes.

[tonyg]

One more warm welcome - from another crocus enthusiast. 
The C cartwrightianus 'Homeri' is indeed a wonderful variation.  A dark throat and black anthers, I think it is the most striking crocus I have seen for a long time ... and I see quite a few!  Thanks for sharing these pictures and your news with us.