Crocus February 2011

[Tony Willis]

Crocus sieberi from near Kastania Northern Greece brought out by todays sun.

That is a very nice form - with such a pale throat and 'bicolor' petals.  Does Crocus veluchensis grow nearby?  It reminds me of the wild hybrid.

Very nice Melvyn,glad you had some sun.

Tony C.sieberi are quite variable all over Greece both in the amount of yellow in the throat and the markings of the petals and I have always found it difficult to find true C. veluchensis although I have seen it on Mt Olympus

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Quite attractive Melvyn - a beauty !!

Two opened in the garden for me today :

1 & 2 : Crocus etruscus
3 & 4 : Crocus versicolor picturatus

[Armin]

Hello Luc,
nice croci. Does your 'Picturatus' have a yellow/orange center?

[Janis Ruksans]

Although few days ago I wrote that no more entries with pictures up to March - I'm breaking this promise. Here is the coldest days during this winter. Yesterday morning "greeted" us with minus 26 C, this morning even minus 28. Fortunately days are sunny and temperature at midday in greenhouses rises up to around zero, although outside still is minus 15-20 C. All beds are covered with glasswool sheets and it protects plants from both - night cold and days sun. Soil at present has only a pair mm thick frosen surface below cover. But yesterday I brought in 2 pots with most advanced crocuses and put them on my offices bathroom window. I covered pots with my fur cap during transport to home. After a pair of hours I felt as in parfume shop and flowers beautifully opened. Today I pictured them and here you can see those beauties after pollination today.
Crocus biflorus biflorus from Italy, Basilicata
and
Crocus baytopiorum.
Janis

[ChrisB]

They are beautiful Janis!  Here is a crocus named for you that is out in bloom (in my greenhouse) at the moment.  Grown in a pot in the cold frame.

Crocus reticulata x angustifolius 'Janis Ruksans'

[Armin]

Janis,
both are very lovely. I like the subsp. biflorus with the violet tint.

[tonyg]

Hello Luc,
nice croci. Does your 'Picturatus' have a yellow/orange center?

I'm thinking what you are thinking ....... I think it does

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Hello Luc,
nice croci. Does your 'Picturatus' have a yellow/orange center?

I'm thinking what you are thinking ....... I think it does

You're speaking in riddles gents ! 
It's a dull day here, flowers closed, but I think they have a yellowish not very pronounced center..

[Armin]

Luc,
I don't want to keep you longer in the dark. Your 'Picturatus' resemble cv. C. biflorus ssp. biflorus 'Parkinsonii'.
C. versicolor 'Picturatus' does not have any yellow center.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

It's a garden center acquisition from 10-15years ago Armin - I shouldn't be surprised if it's wrongly named I guess... 
I'll check whenever the sun makes the flowers open, just to be sure.
Thanks for pointing it out ! 

[Maggi Young]

I'm glad Armin and Tony stoppped the riddle speak.... they were sounding like Galanthophiles! 

[David Nicholson]

.... they were sounding like Galanthophiles! 

Noooooooooooooooooooo we've got enough of those

[tonyg]

I'm glad Armin and Tony stoppped the riddle speak.... they were sounding like Galanthophiles! 

Such libellous comments    It was simple politeness.   I agree with Armin but the query was his and the answer was for Luc 

[Armin]

Maggi,
croconuts are gentlemen!!!
Thanks Tony

Luc, for comparison. Should be easy now

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks Armin !