At last; signs of spring in the Garden. Crocus vernus is in flower in the Alpine house.

The “Spring Crocus” is a lilac shade of purple with prominent orange stigma and yellow anthers rising from the perianth tube. A touch of sun splays the petals wide open and a gradual bleaching of colour occurs, emphasising the darker lilac marking at the tip of the petal.

Growing through the mountains of central and Western Europe up to 2500 metres.

There are now many cultivars with colours ranging through pale blue to purple to white.

On days when the sun does shine it is at a low angle in the sky. In the attached image it highlights the flaking, peeling bark of Betula utilis. Like liquid golden syrup held in suspension the sun shines through these paper thin layers of bark.

Crocus vernus

Crocus vernus