Re: Spring...
gardenchat@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: Spring...
  • From: P* E* <g*@gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:27:54 -0500
yeah, my iphieons & muscari naturalize all over the place, but I gave up on
crocuses.  Crocus bulbs are squirrel bon-bons and those little buggers eat
them all so I don't bother w/ them here.

On 3/18/10, BONNIE_HOLMES <bonnie_holmes@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Many of my spring bulbs naturalize, especially the grape hyacinths. I
> think some must spread by seed. I don't see how else they could get
> where they end up. Of course, critters might also help.
>
>
>
> Crocus
> The crocus is a genus of perennial flowering plants. They belong to the
> family Iridadeae. The flowers of crocus are cup-shaped, solitary, slaver
> form flowers taper off into a narrow tube and seen facing upwards. The
> plants start from a short underground growth, known as corms and are
> mostly hardy perennials and are found surplus in habitats such as
> woodlands, scrub and meadows. Crocuses are the late-winter bulbs, which
> are turned out to be the first blossoms of spring. They are very popular
> for their colors. They are of a wide range of colors. The lilac, mauve,
> yellow and white are the most usual colors and sometimes attractively
> striped. They have grass like leaves; generally have a white central
> stripe along the leaf axis, upon which the flowers appear from late
> winter to early spring.
>
> Cultivation : The crocuses are very easily grown in large areas of
> central and southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, across
> Central Asia to western China. There are five main varieties cultivated.
> They are in need of sunny, well-drained area, though a few prefer shades
> in moist soils. Some are suitable for naturalizing grass. The corms must
> be planted 2 to 4 inches deep, 3 to 5 inches apart; in heavy soils a
> quantity of sharp grit should be dug in to improve drainage. Crocuses
> typically have three stamens. The leaves and flowers of crocuses are
> protected from being frozen by a waxy cuticle.
>
> Propagation : The propagation of the crocus is not a complicated job.
> The crocuses are propagated by two methods; they are by division and by
> seed. Propagation by division is the easiest method. It is very simple
> that, after some years the clumps can be dug up in the autumn and the
> bulbs are divided and replanted. Propagation by seed can be done by the
> following method. Some species of the crocus will seed freely around the
> garden. Seeds are collected from the plants and they are sown in
> well-drained compost when the seeds are ripe. Species of crocus must
> produce plants that are true from seed. Most of the species usually
> flower three years after sowing. Both the methods of propagation are
> followed nowadays, though the method of propagation by division is
> easier. Both of them produce good results.
>
> http://www.freeplant.net/crocus.html
>
>
> Bonnie
> ETN Zone 7
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cyndi D Civ USAF AFMC 95 CS/SCOSI Johnson" <
> cyndi.johnson@edwards.af.mil>
> To: gardenchat@hort.net
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 6:52:01 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: RE: [CHAT] Spring...
>
> I don't know the answer but it sounds very pretty! At least you have
> this nice bright spot amongst all the damage.
>
> Cyndi
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On
> Behalf Of Aplfgcnys@aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 3:25 PM
> To: gardenchat@hort.net
> Subject: [CHAT] Spring...
>
> Well, it's yoyo weather again. After all the storms and damage, the
> last two days are beautifully sunny and in the low 60s. The snow and
> ice pack on the back slope are finally gone. We have had two crews
> who cut and hauled away a mammoth amount of broken limbs. We
> are finally able to see just how bad theh damage is. Actually, ours
> is bad but when we drove down-county yesterday we could see much
> worse. Whole swaths looked as if a tornado had been through. Many
> roads were still closed - the thirty-mile trip took us nearly two hours
> because of all the delays and detours.
>
> On the bright side. Now that the snow is gone, my back slope is
> covered with dozens of purple crocus. I may have planted a few in
> a bed many years ago, but never this drift all down the hill. Add to
> that, they are growing in places upstream of the bed where I might
> have planted some - up behind some boulders and across the
> woodland path. I know bulbs like daffodils will naturalize, but never
> heard of crocus doing it. Chet and I have been arguing about how it
> happens. He thinks they just reseed. I say there is no way reseeding
> could account for some of the odd places they are growing. I know
> bulbs divide, and my guess is that critters - most likely the chipmunks
> that abound in the area, but also possibly squirrels - have carried them
> from one place to another but decided they were not tasty to eat.
> Any of you know the answer?
>
> Auralie
>
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-- 
Pam Evans
Kemp TX
zone 8A

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