Crocus April 2008

[Thomas Huber]

Howard, the flower colour of crocus fades within a few days. So if you compare your new developed
plants with the ones that started earlier you will always find a difference in their blue! So I don't think
your first batch of Princess Beatrix was wrong.

Your tommies look beautiful but I don't know of any cultivar in trade looking like yours.


Guff, I have Negro Boy in my lawn without any label, so I can't tell you exactly if it sets seed or not.
But generally I can say, that Crocus vernus cultivars have the best seed set of all crocus in my garden.
Each year I have thousands of seeds.

[Paul T]

Thomas,

You sent me seed a couple of years ago from Negro Boy, so it apparently set seed at that point.  This is just to confirm that that year at least NB did set seed. 

[Thomas Huber]

Thomas,

You sent me seed a couple of years ago from Negro Boy, so it apparently set seed at that point. 
This is just to confirm that that year at least NB did set seed. 

Paul, I can only remember, that I sent you seeds of the Crocus vernus cultivars from my lawn "possibly including Negro Boy".
Will have to check my lawn if I find the NB clumps for seed pods!

[Paul T]

Ah, could be my incorrect interpretation then.  I'd written "ex Negro Boy" on the pot (I happened to read the details on that particular pot recently, which is why I remember it).  I probably misinterpreted it at the time you sent me.

Oh well, Guff should ignore my previous message!! 

[HClase]

I don't think that's it Thomas.  Here are the two side by side, a late one from the early group and one of the first from the later group.  The unopened buds of the later group are also the rich blue I associate with PB, while I didn't notice this with the early ones.  These pictures on screen (mine anyway!) are a slightly more purple than the real thing.

[Thomas Huber]

OK, you're right, Howard! They look really different!
It resembles the one I found between the corms of PB you sent me some years ago - possibly a seedling.

[Guff]

Thomas, paul thanks.

I had a few flowers open up yesterday, but I didn't see any pollen. Maybe some pollen will show today. If not, bummer that I won't get any seed from them, I assume no pollen, no seed? Maybe I will hand pollinate them anyways. Second picture are the giant vernus on a bank, hopefully I get more then 1 seed pod from all those flowers this year.

[HClase]

What a difference a day makes!  This is the same group of C sieberi HE that I showed yesterday, and also a clump of another cultivar that have come up from a "lost corm" - at least they look like  C. sieberi to me.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Two great clumps Howard !

[Gerdk]

Using the example of crocus: Isn't marvellous what we enjoy when watching this Forum - first flowers in early spring (Newfoundland) - late spring in Europe - autumn in AUS - NZ!
I really enjoy to be here - Thanks to all the contributors!

Gerd

[Thomas Huber]

Using the example of crocus: Isn't marvellous what we enjoy when watching this Forum - first flowers in early spring (Newfoundland) - late spring in Europe - autumn in AUS - NZ!
I really enjoy to be here - Thanks to all the contributors!

Gerd

You're right Gerd - I also love it 

[tonyg]

I too think we have much to celebate.  This is the most informed place on the internet for crocus.  A meeting of minds and experience from around the world.  Great! 

I have approached our moderators with an idea to have a Crocus Group thread where I can post old and new newsletters and make all the details about the CG, membership, seed exchange etc available.  The answer was YES.  I am now awaiting the arrival of electronic copies from the previous secretary and will start the thread(s) as soon as possible.

[Gerry Webster]

Tony - Excellent news! Good of you to take it on.

[Guff]

Some of the nergo boy's look like they want to produce pollen, some yellowing, but no real pollen to use.


Heres what I received as Haarlem Gem. It's a tiny flower. Looks the same as the one Luit van Delft posted in his Connoisseur Collection thread. My camera isn't able to get any/much detail.

[johnw]

A few crocus in bloom here last Wednesday.

Cream Beauty and Violet Queen - a few aberrant ones with narrow petals only noticed in the picture afterwards!

johnw - 18c here today