At the risk of becoming "the crocus lady," I thought I'd talk about one more fall flowering crocus that is blooming in my garden. This fall flowering crocus is white and blooms just a bit later than the other fall flowering crocuses. It's enough different that I did extensive searching on the web—I spent 5 minutes instead of 1 minute—and now I think it is Crocus kotschyanus 'Albus' which is sometimes called Kotschy's crocus. (Recall the purple ones I have are Crocus speciosus.) I … [Read more...] about One More Fall Flowering Crocus
bulbs
Saffron Math and a New Word
Just one little saffron flower came up this fall and I noticed it blooming yesterday. It has three red threads (technically stigmas). Duck Duck Go search engine tells me that there are 4,600 of these threads in one ounce of saffron. Depending on where you buy it, saffron seems to cost about $250 an ounce. That's for the cheap stuff on the "Big A." If I've done my saffron math correctly, those three threads are worth about 16 cents. 3 divided by 4,600 equals .00006521. Multiple … [Read more...] about Saffron Math and a New Word
Bulbs and Annuals in the Same Space
When I slipped those little seedlings of yellow Profusion zinnias along the front of the flower border, I knew there were also bulbs there. Lots of them. In the spring, reticulated irises come up in that space, along with a smattering of spring crocuses. There are even some Ipheion, spring star flowers squeezed in there. And in the fall, as you can see from this latest picture, autumn crocuses send up their flowers. But in late spring and summer and early fall, which is a long time … [Read more...] about Bulbs and Annuals in the Same Space
Always Be On The Lookout
"Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." ~ E. B. White. I went out early yesterday morning and found these colchicum blooms hiding beneath a giant 'Empress Wu' hosta next to a 'Praying Hands' hosta and another hosta that is one of those 'Mouse Ear' varieties. It's a wonder, isn't it, how a colchicum can lie dormant all summer—after the foliage it sends up in the spring dies back—and then know when to send up its flowers. They arrive just as the garden is starting to … [Read more...] about Always Be On The Lookout
Hurry, Fall Is Upon US
"Hurry, Fall is upon us." But there was no "hurry" for the colchicums who waited all through spring, when crocuses got all the attention. And kepting waiting all through summer when countless other flowers were raved over. And then, finally, in their own good time, they came up to flower. What's your hurry? We should all be so patient as to find our own good time, like the colchicums. … [Read more...] about Hurry, Fall Is Upon US
An Investigation Begins
I waited until dark—which is quite late when you live on the western edge of the Eastern timezone—turned off the lights, and carefully, slowly, quietly parted the blinds so I could see out into the back garden. What did I see? I saw shadows across the patio where my porch light was on, but beyond that, where the vandalism took place, I saw only the dark. Did I think I had suddenly developed the ability to see everything in the dark? I had not. I needed a bit of light to see, as we … [Read more...] about An Investigation Begins
