March 2010 – Page 2 – wildeherb.com

We planted a few sets of crocus bulbs three years ago and now the area they occupy has at least double, probably triple, the amount of crocus bulbs we started with. That’s one thing to like about bulbs…they multiply over the years to make for really colorful patches in your flower beds or lawn. To keep up the expansion of color going, dig up the bulbs in the fall and spread them out for an even more beautiful display the following spring!

Crocuses are probably favorites of many people by virtue of their early blooming time in the Spring. Since they are among the very first ones to flower it sort of makes you feel like winter is over and that spring is really here when you do see the crocuses coming out of hiding.

The time of day will make all the difference as to what kind of display you’ll see. If you are viewing the crocus flowers in the early morning, say before going to work in the a.m., you’ll likely see the flowers closed up. After nightfall, the crocus flower petals all relax into the center of the bloom and remain closed until the next day’s sunlight nudges them open.

Three sets of crocus flowers in purple and white in the AM. — Three sets of crocus flowers in purple and white. Photo taken at 7:15 a.m., 21 March 2010.

Three sets of crocus flowers in purple and white. Photo taken at 11 a.m., 21 March 2010.

Here’s a nice side view of the early morning flowers with their petals closed —

Side view of crocus flowers in purple and white. Photo taken at 7:15 a.m., 21 March 2010.

Before the sun and after the sun images of purple and white crocuses —

Early morning view of crocus flowers in purple and white. Photo taken at 7:15 a.m., 21 March 2010.

Late morning view of crocus flowers in purple and white. Photo taken at 11 a.m., 21 March 2010.

Crocuses are native to parts of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

After a long, hard winter and a week of very mild temperatures – in the 60s! – people are smiling again. We still have some cold and chilly weather ahead, here in the mountains of South Central Pennsylvania, but that’s ok. It’s not like we can expect more snowfalls that are measured by the foot instead of the inch!

Counties of the South Central Region of PA

To our south the snow piled up deeper and more often, but we did enjoy the wood furnace immensely. Talk about a radiating heat that lasts…once the floor and stone heated up it carried over through the night. It is so pleasing to not burn all that petroleum oil. Sorry, Canada, but we’d rather use our reusable resource that is so plentiful in PA! Time to re-order another 3 cord of wood for next winter.

Now that we’ve officially said goodbye to Winter and hello to Spring, we can list the signs of Spring all around us:

Canada geese flying north
slate-colored juncos no longer here
increase in songbird’s morning music
perennials like lilacs and raspberries showing off buds
maple trees flowering bright red
crocuses flowering beautifully in purple and white
first blooming yard weed — the white-flowering Pennsylvania Bittercress
strawberries greening up with new leaves starting to push
lilies, echinacea, mint, catnip, columbine showing new growth
tulip greenery up about halfway
garter snakes visiting the garden and spooking the leaf raker
garlic and parsley re-greening in the garden

Time to get to the woods to see the Spring ephemeral flowers, like hepatica, bloodroot, trout lily, violets and lots more. Check out the local parks and forests near you for places to see these beautiful Spring flowers. Your state department of conservation or forests and parks will be able to help you find a walking trail. In Pennsylvania we have the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to help find a local state park.

“Earth laughs in flowers.” (katry.blogspot.com)
Spring flowers (carminesuperiore.blogspot.com)
Maria Rodale: The Long Awaited Return of Spring (huffingtonpost.com)

Crocus Blooms Open Up with the Sunlight

Signs of Spring in South Central Pennsylvania

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