Crocus February - 2009

[Tony Willis]

a few in flower today

Crocus vernus
Crocus sieberi two pictures
Crocus etruscus

thats it for a week as I am of to Scotland for a few days the highlight of which is a promised big hug from Maggi at the Dunblane show. I do not know if I feel excitement or fear and trepidation about our meeting for the first time.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice Croc's Tony !
Have fun up North and give Maggi a big hug for me will you ? 

[Maggi Young]

Tony has made it clear that while he will tolerate a hug, he is not to be kissed..... what a spoilsport

Ian hugs people too.... it may well be a steep learning curve for Tony. do him good, I reckon.
A lot of us are keen huggers ......    Well, we're a warm, friendly crowd and Scotland is pretty cold!!

[Tony Willis]

Tony has made it clear that while he will tolerate a hug, he is not to be kissed..... what a spoilsport

Ian hugs people too.... it may well be a steep learning curve for Tony. do him good, I reckon.
A lot of us are keen huggers ......    Well, we're a warm, friendly crowd and Scotland is pretty cold!!

oh well if I must!

On another note  I have had a message to say that on my last post the pictures are not good when enlarged and I am sorry about this,something has gone wrong,I agree they are awful and I will put it right when I get back.I should say how pleased I am that I got the message it is helpful to know if there is a problem.

[I.S.]

Here is a strange crocus? I was thinking to polinate by hand but there isn't a style 

[annew]

Here's a peek inside from 2008.

[tonyg]

It's Crocus biflorus ssp biflorus then - still a great potful.  Anne you grow them better than I do!  Really!!!!

[I.S.]

Yes, it is a really great potful. I will need many years to increase mines like that.
Here are two of mines which seems lovely to me, but it was rainy and camera couldn't made clear photos sorry about it.

Crocus x paulineae
Crocus biflorus adamii dark stained

[tonyg]

The sun shines here at last   Hopefully it will shine for you too Ibrahim.
After our long cold (by our standards) wintry spell it is warmer and brighter.  Many crocus look good at once.  Here is a taster - I'll post more when I have all the pics sorted.

Crocus imperati suaveloens - you've seen it before but its a beaut every time.
Crocus angustifolius Bronze Form - a good doer (thanks David & Carol),  Note the soft sulphur yellow as opposed to the bright gold of the 'normal' forms.

[arillady]

Thank you all for your lessons on the differences between crocus, colchicums and sternbergias. Now I better do the practical which will cement it in place I hope. Ian the link did not work and when I looked through log 42 it wasn't there. I also, in the meantime, found on my bookshelves a book I should use more often: Bulbs The bulbous plants of Europe and ther allies by Christopher Grey-Wilson ad Brian Mathew with illustrations by Marjorie Blamey.  There is certainly many groups within the Crocus genus.

[annew]

WOW Tony, what a fantastic sight! I think the crocuses must like how I treat my daffodils, as they get the same treatment. Certainly no special skill involved.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Breathtaking pictures Tony !!! 
Do they have to drag you out of your greenhouse when there's some sun at this time of year  

[Maggi Young]

Sorry that link did not work, Pat.... this should.... for Bulb Log 42 of 2008...
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/151008/log.html

[Lesley Cox]

A fabulous sight to greet you when you go out in the morning Tony.

[Oron Peri]

Tony
That is a fantastic display !!!!!

I don't understand how can you do anything else but sitting all day next to it.....