Last few days have been absolutely glorious. It has been bright and sunny, with a little chill in the air; so typical of spring in the Pacific Northwest. I have been out weeding in the garden and taking stock of the changes over this winter. That’s when I noticed tiny crocus flowers in full bloom. What a treat!!
Crocuses are truly harbingers of spring, bringing life back into the garden. The tiny flowers emerge as closed buds in early spring. The rounded petals open during the day to reveal a deep yellow center.
Crocuses grow quite well here, in the Pacific Northwest. The corms can be planted in Sept/Oct (fall season), to a depth of 5-6 inches. They like sandy, well-drained soils and do not require any special care as such. They naturalize and come back year after year in the garden.
Interesting fact: The spice ‘saffron’ is actually obtained from the flowers of Crocus sativus, a fall blooming crocus.