Crocus

The opening of Crocus flowers is practically synonymous with the advent of Spring. That little splash of colour is so welcome after weeks and weeks of dreary grey Winter!

This purple Crocus is one of a clump that has established itself at the bottom of my garden, at the base of one of my compost bins. I didn't plant them there - they just moved in of their own accord. Maybe a corm fell out of my hand as I took a handful of garden debris to the bin?

This next photo demonstrates how eager the Crocuses are for a bit of warmth - leaning over in unison, pointing their heads at the sun.

Just beginning to open, ready to soak up the rays.

This is a different type. It has very pale spindly flower-stalks. I don't know its name, because it's another volunteer, but after reading a blogpost the other day on Hillwards, I now think they are Crocus Tommasinianus, sometimes called simply "Early Crocus".

This next photo is very much my sort of thing. I love the strong contrast between light and shade, as well as the contrast between the disciplined straight line of the wooden edging and the chaotic disarray of the Crocuses. They almost look as if they are dancing under spotlights! (Yes, I have exaggerated the contrast!)

I hope soon to be able to show off some Crocuses that I have actually deliberately planted. Mine are mostly in pots so that they can be moved round the garden to wherever I want them. After a year in pots like that they will get transplanted into a border somewhere, or at the base of one of the trees, so that they can become "naturalised".

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P.S. Nothing to do with Crocuses, but I just wanted to put in a good word for another blog that I think deserves some support:-

I hope that Taylor Nelsen will forgive me for quoting some words from his blog Flour, Water, Dirt and Rain

"Flour Water Dirt and Rain is a food and garden project/blog based in Ballinspittle, West Cork, Ireland. this blog works with new ideas in gardening, cooking and DIY. the project emphasises on working from scratch and getting to the basics of how we live and what we eat, by creating delicious, healthy and exciting food from the dirt up."

Have a look at it, folks. Some nice stuff there...