The shot above is of the Autumn "crocus" (
Colchicum autumnale 'The Giant') here at Rotary Botanical Gardens. We planted over 8,000 of these bulbs years ago and they continue to be a huge hit this time of year but also create much confusion. Despite the name of Autumn crocus, colchicums are in the lily family while crocuses are in the iris family. There are true blooming Autumn crocuses that bloom in a couple of weeks including the saffron crocus (
Crocus sativus) but colchicums are planted typically in August, will bloom in September but then send up their foliage in spring (that goes dormant by mid-June). These fist-sized bulbs should be planted 6" down in rich, well-drained soils that don't receive summer irrigation. Colchicums are native to meadows and low, rich soils in Europe. While expensive, once these perennialize, they will offer many years of enjoyment. Below you see colchium poking out amongst some plectranthus and variegated papyrus (all of which was planted above the bulbs in June). Nice arrangement.
The plant sale was busier today than yesterday and we saw a steady stream of customers although it was never overwhelming. I hope we are overwhelmed
this weekend! Marianne took a well-deserved day off from the plant sale although she was in this morning to make sure everything started up ok. Larry ran irrigation, worked on mower repairs and kept busy with various brush fires. Little Jerry mowed and spent the rest of the day pruning and tidying up in the Japanese garden. Janice helped with the plant sale but was able to go out and water as well as plant some perennials in the woodland walk garden. Kay helped Dr. Yahr plant more perennials in the wishing well garden and then shifted to work with Barb with more weeding and ugly annual removal. Patti and Sally, our newest garden volunteers, did a "wander, weed and tidy" thru the gardens and have impressed me with their attention to detail. They are not novice gardeners! Dr. Gredler and Vern worked on a couple projects and we had another great group of plant sale volunteers (Mary, Sally, Tammy, Virginia, Gary, Nancy, Laurie, Maggie, Heather, Ron, Joe and Rose). The shot to the right is of the beans of the hyacinth bean (
Dolichos lablab or
Lablab purpureus) that I showed in an early post in bloom. I love the glossy purple pink pods! I took the shot below this morning and caught a good look at our 'Dialogue' sculpture in the entrance garden. Our prairie (bottom photo) is looking good as the big bluestem (
Andropogon gerardii) creates a pinkish haze.
The shot above is of the Autumn "crocus" (Colchicum autumnale 'The Giant') here at Rotary Botanical Gardens. We planted over 8,000 of these bulbs years ago and they continue to be a huge hit this time of year but also create much confusion. Despite the name of Autumn crocus, colchicums are in the lily family while crocuses are in the iris family. There are true blooming Autumn crocuses that bloom in a couple of weeks including the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) but colchicums are planted typically in August, will bloom in September but then send up their foliage in spring (that goes dormant by mid-June). These fist-sized bulbs should be planted 6" down in rich, well-drained soils that don't receive summer irrigation. Colchicums are native to meadows and low, rich soils in Europe. While expensive, once these perennialize, they will offer many years of enjoyment. Below you see colchium poking out amongst some plectranthus and variegated papyrus (all of which was planted above the bulbs in June). Nice arrangement.
this weekend! Marianne took a well-deserved day off from the plant sale although she was in this morning to make sure everything started up ok. Larry ran irrigation, worked on mower repairs and kept busy with various brush fires. Little Jerry mowed and spent the rest of the day pruning and tidying up in the Japanese garden. Janice helped with the plant sale but was able to go out and water as well as plant some perennials in the woodland walk garden. Kay helped Dr. Yahr plant more perennials in the wishing well garden and then shifted to work with Barb with more weeding and ugly annual removal. Patti and Sally, our newest garden volunteers, did a "wander, weed and tidy" thru the gardens and have impressed me with their attention to detail. They are not novice gardeners! Dr. Gredler and Vern worked on a couple projects and we had another great group of plant sale volunteers (Mary, Sally, Tammy, Virginia, Gary, Nancy, Laurie, Maggie, Heather, Ron, Joe and Rose). The shot to the right is of the beans of the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab or Lablab purpureus) that I showed in an early post in bloom. I love the glossy purple pink pods! I took the shot below this morning and caught a good look at our 'Dialogue' sculpture in the entrance garden. Our prairie (bottom photo) is looking good as the big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) creates a pinkish haze.
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