Crocus January 2010

[krisderaeymaeker]

I was already envious on New Year to see al those fantastic Cocus in the garden from Simon,splendid.
I don't know what it is but flowering  Crocus make me happy each time.
Their flowering period is just perfect,always after a period that most flowers are far away .
Nice to follow the discussions from al this specialists on this thread ,learning a lot .
Nice selection Melvyn , I most like the first one because of the
 
     

[krisderaeymaeker]

Something goes wrong ...Want to say because of the markings on the outside of the flower.
But the yellow ones bring the spring right in our livingroom.
So far ,Crocus is not a great succes in our garden.Not in pots and not planted out.
The bulbs getting smaller and smaller by the time and after two or three years nothing left...
The only ones that does wel are some species like speciosus and the goulimyi's that Rik gave me .
Must study on that...

[Armin]

Melvyn,
nice croci pictures. It seems you have a quite warm greenhouse initiating the early flowerage.

I'm surprised about C. corsicus. In my garden it is usual one of the last speci in flower.

And I like your form of C. oliveri. Indeed very nice foliage, fine pedal markings and calyx.
Unfortunately lost mine during winter 2008/2009 due bare frosts and too much moist.

[Sinchets]

Our unseasonally warm start to 2010 has brought the wild Crocus season forward by a month. The areas we visited today were under snow this time last year. Two sites were visited- these pictures are from the first site. Rough grassland on limestone bordering on oak and beech woodland.
Crocus biflorus adamii 

[Sinchets]

The second site is south facing and at a lower altitude. It had a greater population in flower and also greater variability in flower colour.
Forms were found ranging from albinos to white with one pale blue stripe, through shades of lilac with speckles or stripes and on to lilacs with solid purple outers.
Unfortunately by the time we arrived the sky had clouded and flowers were closing.

[Sinchets]

These pics show some of the white with stripes forms.

[Sinchets]

Some forms with solid purple outers were especially attractive.

[Janis Ruksans]

Simon, fantastic crocuses, especially on last entry. Can you show some picture from top, to see throat?
Janis

[Sinchets]

Sorry, Janis. It was a difficult day for taking pics and we had lost the light at the second site. These 2 pics were taken at the first site.

[Sinchets]

The last pics are of a group shot under a bush, and an individual where the 3 outers were white and unmarked, but the inners were striped- contrary to all of the other ones we saw today.

[Alex]

Here is a pic of C. baytopiorum pots in flower from my greenhouse today, although it's a new set up and I had hoped for an improvement on last year's etiolation (see threads passim!) they're just as bad!

However, flkowers are still beautiful and they grow well - and thanks to Annew from the forum for the contents of the lower pot. Also on the subject of forum generosity, i have 3 seedlings up of C. nerimaniae, thanks Tony (Willis)!

Alex

[Maggi Young]

We can sympathise onthe problem of etiolation, Alex... our bulbs under glass suffer badly from the low light levels. This year, though, with all the recent snow, it is to be expected that the poor wee flowers will be stretching, don't you think? It's a hard time for them!

[I.S.]

  Simon very nice pictures from wild. My favorites also like Janis Nr. b a 14 & b a 5.
In my region they are always stained blue with dark flower tubes. (like your last four shots which Janis means) Do you have any cloase up picture for showing the corm and leaves color? because mines which I have seen they have always grey-green leaves! otherwise the petals look very variable.

[Alex]

Fair dos Maggi, perhaps I shouldn't be so critical...

[Maggi Young]

Fair dos Maggi, perhaps I shouldn't be so critical...

That's the spirt, Alex.... you'd be a bit drawn and weak if you spend much time in a glasshouse in this weather, now, wouldn't you?  Be generous with the poor bulbs and be glad they're alive at all