Crocus October 2007

[Armin]

Some crocus from the last days:
Cr.hadriaticus semi plena
Cr.mathewii rose' form
Cr.tournefortii x boryi , thanks Tony
Cr.tournefortii 'Alba'
Cr.biflorus ssp.melantherus

Dirk, super pictures. But I like most Cr.biflorus ssp.melantherus.

[Lesley Cox]

A nice friend in Australia has sent me a good packet of seeds from his C. goulimyi `Mani White' and a separate packet with a single, solitary seed from C. minimus albus - his entire crop from many capsules. This form apparently reached Australia quite a few years ago, to Otto Fauser from Brian Mathew. It is minimus-like, except for colour, but flowers as a winter or very early spring form, unlike the usual C. minimus which with me is mid spring and continuing quite late as it flowers for a long time and very freely.

The white form is around among the dedicated Australian crocusus growers and at least some of them refer to it as Crocus `Minibus.' I'll have to sow the seed in its own pot but maybe with a very small narcissus or something, so that it has identifiable company. They say that `One' is the lonliest number.

[Thomas Huber]

Seems like I've missed some interesting discussions during my weekend-absence!!

David, I would have a look at your chewed crocus tonight with the pocket lamp! Nice medius 

Tony, thanks for your virus-photos - will have to look careful at mine today, too! I have a few ugly
flowers, from which I have to check the leaves for virus! Interesting, that you also notice poor
flowering in your collection - mine show the same effect this autumn!

Re wattiorum and nerimaniae: Kerndorff and Pasche have choosen to give both interim species-status,
until they have finished their inquiries

[Andrew]

Crocus laevigatus albus and Crocus laevigatus CEH612.

[hadacekf]

I harvested the first time safran! 

[Paul T]

Wonderful pics everyone.

Udo, the double hadriaticus is fascinating, but the rose mathewii is just glorious!!!!!    Beautiful!

[mark smyth]

I'm giving a bulb lecture tonight so the car is packed with everything that is looking good. I've been out to wind down the windows because it's very warm here today. Crocus pulchellus 'Zephyr' that were not open yesterday are now open and showing deformities. One flower has very small anthers c 2mm with a normal style. The other has normal anthers but a very small style. If I sneak home for the camera ....

I bought speciosus Alba from John Amand at the discussion weekend. He wasnt sure if they would be alwight (!). They are.

[Maggi Young]

I'd like to come to your bulb lecture tonight, Mark, but I can't as I'm hoping to drop in to surprise Franz so he can make me a delicious pilau rice with his saffron!   Just having a little trouble with a good flight time    So annoying that there is no direct flight from Aberdeen to Vienna.

[mark smyth]

but there is one to Belfast City airport

[mark smyth]

The things I/we do!!

[Maggi Young]

What gorgeous flowers, though, eh? Even with bits missing! Something about a white crocus that I just love.

[mark smyth]

Back at work now. Did anyone miss me, nah!

[mark smyth]

White? I would call these blue

[Maggi Young]

Tsk! Tsk! You are naughty    Hope the plants in the car aren't getting too hot and bothered.
I'd have thought that by now you would ALWAYS take your camera everywhere with you? You KNOW you always need it!  

Blue?  I'll look again.

I was looking at a crocus here earlier and thought it had a blue tinge, though really white... now I'm maybe seeing these back to front, so to speak. I do admit I am overdue an eye test 


Okay, I see blue now... I must have had a transitory attack of whitefever.... I'll lie down, it'll soon pass.

[mark smyth]

I know I know you never know when the camera is needed

Tomorrow I photograph one of these against the white form or someone can do so