End of Crocus season

Jane McGary janemcgary@earthlink.net
Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:25:58 PST
The crocus season does not end so abruptly on the Pacific coast as in Jim 
Waddick's Missouri garden. After about a week of frosty nights here, 
crocuses are still attractive in the garden: C. speciosus (near the end of 
its bloom), C. ochroleucus, C. cartwrightianus, C. goulimyi, C. medius, C. 
serotinus, and C. hadriaticus all recover well after temperatures of about 
28 F. In the bulb frame there are many others, some of which will 
eventually be trialed outdoors. SOon C. laevigatus (which has been 
surprisingly hardy in the open) will begin blooming.

The frosty nights are accompanied by clear days, unusual in the Pacific 
Northwest at this time of year, and the fall color is especially good this 
year. Among the fallen leaves, various Arum species are pushing up their 
foliage, and the tips of some daffodil leaves are showing above ground. 
Some of the Narcissus cantabricus and N. bulbocodium forms have 
well-developed leaves already. The fall-flowering narcissi were 
particularly good this year; perhaps they enjoyed the minute boost of 
moisture they got when being repotted around the end of July.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA



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