Crocus Year 2021

[Tristan_He]

Crocus 'Firefly' (is this an atticus?). I planted a load of these in the meadow area in autumn, but I must say I find the colour a little disappointing.



Crocus tommasinianus 'Roseus'. This is easy for me but it's very early and so can miss the sunshine.



Another nice form of C. tommasinianus which is probably the easiest garden crocus here. A benefit of lockdown is that I get to enjoy the crocuses a lot more - normally I am at the office when they open in the sun, but working from home I can just take a 10 minute break in the garden.

[Maggi Young]

Lovely  pix, Tristan-  I call that Crocus sieberi atticus 'Firefly' - and  it's  one  of  my  favourites for  doing  so well in the  garden.
I wonder  how  many  people are  able  to see  so much more in the  life  of their  plants  while working from home? I expect there  are  plenty  who have  scarcely  noticed the  passing  of the  seasons untill it was "forced" upon them  - we  gardeners are  at  a real advantage  here!

[Leena]

Yes, it is possible, that there have not been enough pollinators when my crocuses have flowered. I should try to pollinate them myself.

[Roma]

A new one for me this year - Crocus angustifolius bronze form from Pitcairn Alpines - very pretty.





Crocus tommasinius albus.  Got this a very long time ago - a miserable thing with small flowers and narrow petals but it is a survivor.  I threw away the corms into rough grass  and was surprised a few years later when I spotted the flowers.



 

[Armin]

Hallo Croconuts!
wonderful crocus images from everybody.

After some absence from the forum I'd like to share some images from my meadow and small cold frame.
I enjoyed the sunny warm late winter weather and with great pleasure to see, plenty of bees this year zealously collecting the flowers nectar.
I hope for a good seed set.

[Armin]

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[Armin]

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[Armin]

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C. atrospermus - sorry for the blurry image. It is seed raised and I have it some years. Pity only one sample is left over but flowering constantly each year.
C. abantensis and C. alexandri are seed raised and flower for the first time. Not the largests and nicest but anyhow! 
C. graveolens smells ugly - even the bees dislike the smell!
C. nubigena is beautiful

[Gail]

Thanks Armin. I'm intrigued by "C. graveolens smells ugly" and wonder what would pollinate it. I've only ever noticed bees on my crocus.

[Armin]

Gail,
I have no idea which insects like the bad smell of C. graveolens. Maybe snails or such? I made the observation that no bees landed or touched the flowers. They approach and turned away once they smell them!

[Armin]

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C. nubigena - I like it!
C. tommasinianus - mix of all colors, mauve, pink, white, pictus type, roseus type
Seedling of cv. Eyecatcher - I like the cream yellow vs. white color of the original
C. vernus - this form appears now in several baskets as an impurity - I have no explanation of this.

[Tristan_He]

Nice crocuses Armin. I'm intrigued by the C. tommasinianus to the right of the pot - has it emerged through the drainage holes and is then growing up the outside of the pot?

[Armin]

Hi Tristan,

This pot of C. tommasinianus is about 5 years untouched. Yes, this crocus squeezed itself through the mesh of the basket.
Sometimes I'm wondered which ways the crocus shots take.

[tonyg]

Thanks Armin. I'm intrigued by "C. graveolens smells ugly" and wonder what would pollinate it. I've only ever noticed bees on my crocus.

Flies attracted to carrion or similar perhaps.   What smells unpleasant to us may be nectar to some other beast ... as many a dog owner can testify :-)

[Maggi Young]

Almost  ten minutes of Crocus Joy, in this video of visitors to Janis Ruksans' garden  - the visitors have  been sensible and followed Janis' plea to park on the  main road to avoid the  snowy road.....
 Crocuses 2021 Women's Greeting -
Krokusi 2021 Sveiciens Sievietēm