Crocus January - 2009

[David Nicholson]

Yes you did Ashley I remember it very well, but I spent them on plants from German nurseries

[ashley]

Yes you did Ashley I remember it very well, but I spent them on plants from German nurseries

Never mind David   This will pass too.  How often in the past have I blanched at UK plant/bulb/seed prices due to an unfavourable exchange rate.  But of course there'll be many further gyrations; you'll just have to choose your moment to order abroad - I think it's called commodities dealing

[David Nicholson]

Ashley, if my ticket was the only entry in the lottery I wouldn't win

[ashley]

Believe me - you're not the only one with THAT particular distinction David

[Anthony Darby]

A long time ago there used to be a Falkirk Musical (oxymoron now) Festival. A friend was the only entrant in the 'cello class. He came second!

[dominique]

With the low temperature, I put on the bulb frames  several covers and I put off them with the sunshine. Some "babies" are born !!!

Crocus antalyensis 1
 Crocus antalyensis 2
 Crocus sieberi pale form

[dominique]

suite.....

Crocus michelsonii
 Crocus biflorus nubigena 1
 Crocus biflorus nubigena 2

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Nice babies Dominique 
Love the antalyensis - mine are not showing yet !
Green with envy for biflorus nubigena - I have it on my wants list but have not seen it offered lately 

[Armin]

Bravo Dom!
very lovely babies
C.antalyensis is very beautiful - your photo is much better then the ones I've seen in catalogues/online shops.

Is it hardy enough for the open garden?
I'm a bit hesitant.

[dominique]

Luc and Armin
Thank you ; I have not yet try it outdoors.
Dom

[Thomas Huber]

Thomas, has your Sunspot flowered yet?

No David - I wish it would. But I've had temperatures around 0°C since the beginning of November
and -10 - -18°C in the last two weeks - everything in the garden is covered with snow and sleeping.
This year is the coldest winter since I've started gardening 

[Thomas Huber]

Where did you get Sunspot from Mark? I wanted to take C baytopiorum to our local meeting, so brought it into the house in tight bud. Within 10 mins it was like the first photo, and within 20 mins like the second! The yellow crocus is one whose label I've lost. It may have come from Janis Ruksans, or from Thomas. Any ideas - I think it might be a korolkowii?

Anne the yellow crocus looks like Crocus korolkowii "Mountains Glory" you got from me 2 years ago.

[Anthony Darby]

The yellow crocus is one whose label I've lost. It may have come from Janis Ruksans, or from Thomas. Any ideas - I think it might be a korolkowii?

Anne the yellow crocus looks like Crocus korolkowii "Mountains Glory" you got from me 2 years ago.

Very like my 'Mountains Glory'.

[Janis Ruksans]

You are very happy, you can go to your fields and to check living flowers. For me in those dark and muddy days the single possibility is to go through pictures and memories of last year trips.
So back to Crocuses. Very variable in nature is Crocus biflorus isauricus. Unfortunately it is one of those subspecies for identifying of which you must to know from where comes your corms. The blackish or grayish connectives on anthers in some populations only rarely are present. Some populations are very variable, some very uniform. One of such very uniform populations is on Aldurbe yaila some 12 km NW from Akseki. It is famous place where Green Tours are guided for Galanthus elwesii. But there are many other bulbs, too. Crocus biflorus isauricus there are presented by 2 general forms - with striped and with stippled back of petals (quite rarely). I saw only one plant which seemed to be possible hybrid with C. chrysanthus, but no one of chrysanthus. Only few km N from Aldurbe yaila is another half-abandoned road from Akseki to nowwhere (through city rubbish deposit to pass, further it was crossed by snow avalanche and not more passable). At pass the same isauricus is more variable and brighter but again only very few has blackish connective. There I didn't find any chrysanthus, too.
01,02 - both pictures shows quite rare plants in those populations where black color is only slightly visible in anthers
03 - both - striped and stippled - forms can grow side by side
04 - naturally potted crocuses
05 - of course, seems that crocuses on previous picture feels more happy than those snowdrops, but they are safe from any "galanthophile".
06,07 - brighter plants of C. isauricus
08 - quite rare shape of flower there and note the color of petal back.
Janis
Only 4 pict now, others on next entry. Oh, my internet...

[Janis Ruksans]

Another "quartet" of pictures
Janis