Crocuses in the Southern Hemisphere - 2009

[Otto Fauser]

  The Crocus season is coming to the end in the Southern Hemisphere - the last ones flowering in my garden today:
 Cr. heuffelianus "National Park'
            "           'Lilac Wonder'
            '            ' Carpathian Wonder'
      vernus ' Maximillian'
      kosaninii

[Paul T]

Lovely, Otto.    'National Park' looks like a dark beauty, and of course the wonderful 'Carpathian Wonder'. I don't think though that there is a heuffelianus that I haven't liked as yet.    The 'Maximillian' is interesting, with it's almost heuffelianus markings.  Great stuff!!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wonderful series Otto ! 
I really love the C. Carpathian Wonder !! I just invested in a bulb from Janis and I'm really looking forward to see it in the flesh next Spring. 

[Lesley Cox]

I'm hoping Marcus may have one tucked away somewhere with my name on it. 

[arillady]

You certainly grow some real treasures Otto.
The Carpathian Wonder is certainly unique in its markings.

[Ragged Robin]

You certainly grow some real treasures Otto.
The Carpathian Wonder is certainly unique in its markings.

I agree - how does the Y shaped marking come about?

[Janis Ruksans]

You certainly grow some real treasures Otto.
The Carpathian Wonder is certainly unique in its markings.

I agree - how does the Y shaped marking come about?

I found single such colored plant in Easthern Carpathians. Original plant was eaten by rodents but remained some selfsown seedlings, from those was selected the best, it increased quite well and I named it 'Carpathian Wonder'. Other quite similar in marking but with light lilac base color I named 'Lilac Wonder'. But Y shaped mark is typical for Crocus heuffelianus and scepusiensis as well as for some forms of C. vernus (very rarely).
Janis

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks for your reply Janis, a wonderful story of survival how you found and named 'Carpathian Wonder'.  The meadows of Crocus vernus here are quite an amazing sight as far as the eye can see, I shall look out for the rare Y next year!

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for your reply Janis, a wonderful story of survival how you found and named 'Carpathian Wonder'.  The meadows of Crocus vernus here are quite an amazing sight as far as the eye can see, I shall look out for the rare Y next year!

Robin, this reply from Janis is all rubbish. I personally have seen Otto out in his garden, lying on his tummy and weilding a fine paintbrush, making the little lilac marks on each crocus flower. He does them just before the visitors arrive and he has to re-do them after rain. I have no doubt that Janis does exactly the same with his. 

[Ragged Robin]

    Y not?

[Lesley Cox]

There is a place in the North Island of New Zealand, with the Maori name of Waikikamukau (not sure of the spelling, however). Obviously the answer is "Y not?"

[Ragged Robin]

I love the NZ signs - my Father was involved in developing Geothermal Power for electricity at Wairakei, on a trip he confidently pointed out that they were crossing the Waithere river - a tractor coming the the other direction made it clear that the sign said 'Wait Here' 

[arillady]

NZ has SO SO many one lane bridges where one side or the other gets right of way. Wonder if they lead the way in this.

[Lesley Cox]

I'm sure we do Pat but with one arrow red (small) and the other arrow black (large) I'm never sure which side gives way to which. Then we also have one lane bridges that have a bulge in the middle so that at a pinch, two cars can pass if one has come on to the bridge not realizing another was already coming the other way.

The island of Samoa is about to change its driving from right hand side of the road (as in America) to left hand side (as in NZ/Aust/UK). It happens tomorrow I think and there are predictions of all kinds of accidents as most of the population are adamantly against the change. Apparently it is because it is about 6 times cheaper to import a car from NZ to Samoa than it is to import from USA to Samoa.

[Otto Fauser]

Thanks for your reply Janis, a wonderful story of survival how you found and named 'Carpathian Wonder'.  The meadows of Crocus vernus here are quite an amazing sight as far as the eye can see, I shall look out for the rare Y next year!

Robin, this reply from Janis is all rubbish. I personally have seen Otto out in his garden, lying on his tummy and weilding a fine paintbrush, making the little lilac marks on each crocus flower. He does them just before the visitors arrive and he has to re-do them after rain. I have no doubt that Janis does exactly the same with his.  

         But dear Lesley , how well I remember how puffed out you were after you picked me up from my prostrate position - unable to do so without help ( due to 2 hip replacements)