my colchicum garden

[dominique]

Every 3 years I dig up my Colchicum to grow bulblets in an other bed. This year, I plant about 4000 bulbs in the principal site (200 byzantinum, 200 byzantinum album, 300 pannonicum, 180 laetum, 150 cilicicum, 120 autumnale album, 30 autumnale plenum, 110 autumnale album plenum, 20 autumnale atropurpureum, 300 bivonae Apollo, 80 agrippinum, 50 sibthorpii, 50 speciosum, 35 bornmuelleri, 280 speciosum album, 90 sp. Ordu, 100 sp. Antares, 30 sp. Gracia, 100 sp. Athlee, 100 sp. Zephyr, 80 sp. Jochum Hof, 50 sp. Dick Trotter, 10 sp. Autumn Herald, 20 Autumn Queen, 20 sp. Rosy Queen, 12 sp. Rosy Dawn, 200 The Giant, 20 Violet Queen, 150 Lilac Wonder, 20 waterlily + some other more rare hybrids in little quantity)
Wild species grow in a frame.
I like to mix Colchicum with Sternbergia. I use them to separe the Colchicum varieties and when I dig them up, Sterbergia bulbs show me the separation between two hyb.
It is an immense work but I hope the result nice in some days, better next year because bulbs larger after one year separated of the babies !!!
I achieve this work this week and after, I will be able to send promished bulblets at numerous friends who reserved me some of them. Thank for the patience !!!
Dom

[Gail]

Goodness me, that is a major undertaking Dom!  I'm looking forward to seeing your bulbs in flower.

[dominique]

Thank you Gail
I will show the evolution during september
I bought each new variety in little quantity ( 1 à 5) and after more of 20 years, I have a lot of certain of them. I research all new one that I see on specialist nurseries and nice friends who send me some rarities and I thank them here. I try to sow some seeds  since 2 years too but it is too early to see them in bloom

[ranunculus]

You don't like colchicums, Dominique?   
 
AMAZING!

[Armin]

Dom,
wow! So much work - I can feel the immense back pains, too
But the bulbs will pay you off with thousands of flowers pain compensation
I'm excited to see it soon here.

[Ragged Robin]

Dom, what a wonderful insight into how you are planning and planting you Colchicum Garden - such a huge amount of work so professionally laid out, I can't wait to see the progression as it establishes itself. I hope it brings you (and us  )  lots of pleasure      thanks for showing us.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A massive undertaking Dom !
I'm sure the result will be amazing - I'll be looking forward to see this ocean of Colchicum ! 

[Thomas Huber]

Most promising for the following autumn, Dom. Please show some photos when the flowers are out.
I also replanted some Colchicums, but unfortunately I don't have the space like you - so only 10 x 10 corms
on a few square meters.

[ian mcenery]

Congratulations Dom please show us when they are in flower. Do you grow other plants in this bed for summer and winter interest or is it just for  the Colchicums and sterbergias only?

[krisderaeymaeker]

Most promising for the following autumn, Dom. Please show some photos when the flowers are out.
I also replanted some Colchicums, but unfortunately I don't have the space like you - so only 10 x 10 corms
on a few square meters.

Same problem here Thomas .
But a fantastic project Dom. I am very interested how it develops . 

[dominique]

Thank you all for your encouragements !
Ian, I grow some specialities in long parallel lines for that there is always beauties to see and in the respect of the species in the ground : 1, Rosa... / 2, high perennials.. /.3, Narcissus... / 4, Dahlia... /5, Lilium... / 6, Iris... / 7, Colchicum.../ 8, dwarf perennials.../ 9, dwarf bulbs and then lawn.
With Dahlia, we forget that old Rosa don't bloom after july. But I put nothing on the colchicum. Next year, I will try some annuals which don't need water in summer and die in late august.
To day, the first Colchicum in bloom
Autumn queen
sibthorpii
bivonae Apollo

[dominique]

Only one week after, the garden shines in pink-yellow stars.
If Colchicum bivonae and sibthorpii are in full bloom, Colchicum byzantinum sector begins and speciosum-cilicicum-laetum sectors are always sleeping !
Sternbergia sicula is through everywhere but lutea only shows leaves

[dominique]

Colchicum bivonae Apollo and sibthorpii are to day the kings

[dominique]

Other gems in little quantity only !!! Colchicum Flaminco Dance, Neptun, graecum, davisii, speciosum little dark form
(Thank you H and TW)

[dominique]

and for the end, a C. sent me under the name : C. speciosum early form (sometimes end of july)
then, tenorii, Merendera filifolia (bad photo), a beautiful form of montana (greek origin) and Sternbergia sicula