Crocus February 2011

[art600]

If I remember I will send you some.

[David Nicholson]

Very kind Arthur but I have 3 pots so will have enough to try them in the garden. Many thanks.

[Roma]

Beautiful crocuses everybody.  Thank you for sharing them.  I have only two flowering in the greenhouse just now but others in the coldframe are showing colour and are moving fast.  Crocus caspius did not flower this year and 'Sunspot' has only one shoot showing and does not look as if it will flower.
Crocus atticus 'Bowles' White' was rescued from a heap of old potting compost.
The other was labelled Crocus vernus ssp vernus grown from seed in 1988 and neglected for many years but now building up again.  I think it should be Crocus heuffelianus.

[art600]

At last year's discussion weekend I bought a lot of bulbs including  Crocus korolkowii.

I have not always been successful with korolkowii, but I hope these two pots will lead to better things.

[Janis Ruksans]

Few days ago I took off covering of beds in greenhouses. Temperature all the week are around zero. Crocuses and other bulbs in general looks very well. Some damage of Penicillium or Fusarium nivale on autumn blooming crocus cataphylls. So I sprayed all beds with SWITCH which is reported as best against those diseases. It is very expensive, but seem that works well. Today all plants looked very well. It was a little lighter at midday and I maid few pictures. Of course it is nothing comparing with your pictures - with me only some buds and mostly of crocuses regarded as autumn bloomers. More developed are spring Colchicum blooms. Development of those flowers were stopped by early winter. Pity, but next week are offered returning of frost up to minus 14-18 C. Hope it will be mistake but I'm ready to return covering during one day.
Janis

[Armin]

A couple from the greenhouse today

2 pics of C vernus from seed 2006 (thanks TongG)
C biflorus ssp issauricus

Nice to know that the plants are spreading their wings!  Funny how things work out, that form of C vernus came from (SRGC ) seed as C reticulatus ... which it isn't!  It has been exhibited under the incorrect name at shows.  I was very disappointed to find my potful of C reticulatus were imposters and have always been a bit unkind about them - perhaps I should review my opinion

BTW Ian that is a great backlit shot of the Crocus biflorus.

Tony,
the very beautiful C. vernus (from you and Ian) have a style much shorter than the anthers.
Isn't that a dominant characteristics of ssp. albiflorus?
I can't judge the size and visibility of bracteole from picture but overall appearance looks more albiflorus to me.
Or is it perhaps a hybrid?

[annew]

I love the C laevigatus 'Gold Back', that creamy colour is one of my favourites in plants.

[ian mcenery]

Few days ago I took off covering of beds in greenhouses. Temperature all the week are around zero. Crocuses and other bulbs in general looks very well. Some damage of Penicillium or Fusarium nivale on autumn blooming crocus cataphylls. So I sprayed all beds with SWITCH which is reported as best against those diseases. It is very expensive, but seem that works well. Today all plants looked very well. It was a little lighter at midday and I maid few pictures. Of course it is nothing comparing with your pictures - with me only some buds and mostly of crocuses regarded as autumn bloomers. More developed are spring Colchicum blooms. Development of those flowers were stopped by early winter. Pity, but next week are offered returning of frost up to minus 14-18 C. Hope it will be mistake but I'm ready to return covering during one day.
Janis

Nice plants Janis lets hope for some sun

Here is C corsicus looking nice in todays sun - though not much forecast for the next few days

[Maggi Young]

I cannot believe all these gorgeous photos.... you all have you plants so far ahead of ours.

[udo]

Ian, your Crocus looks more like a Cr.suaveolens ( yellow throat )

[Gerry Webster]

Ian, your Crocus looks more like a Cr.suaveolens ( yellow throat )

You beat me to it Dirk. Either C.suaveolens or a hybrid  Most of the 'C. corsicus' currently in the trade seem to have yellow throats - should be white or lilac.

[Janis Ruksans]

I agree with Dirk. It certainly is not C. corsicus, Ian. Crocus corsicus has white throat.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

Ian, your Crocus looks more like a Cr.suaveolens ( yellow throat )

You beat me to it Dirk. Either C.suaveolens or a hybrid  Most of the 'C. corsicus' currently in the trade seem to have yellow throats - should be white or lilac.

Those with light yellow throat are hybrids.
Janis

[Alex]

Here are Crocus cvijicii (ex Janis), C. gargaricus and a huge flowered C. veluchensis from Tony Willis. If I can stop the stems etiolating, I think this will be an incredible plant.

[mark smyth]

C. angustifolius Gold is open today   wolf whistle

Sorry no photo because my camera does not like the colour.

Many orange Crocus now in flower and slugs smell good things. Alternative food out of slugs