Crocus tommasinianus for Early Spring

The bees are out drinking it up in the spring sunshine.

This is undoubtedly my favorite early spring crocus, as every year it spreads its cheery purple all around both of my gardens, here at Havenwood and Gilmore as well. I cannot get enough color at this time of year. Inevitably, I think, "Why did I not plant a few hundred more?"

Are My Bulbs OK in the Snow???

Crocus tommasinianus in the snow...

People always ask, "Are my bulbs are going to be ok coming up in harsh winter weather?" 

"My tulips are poking up and it is only January! Are they going to be ok?" 

An Egg Hunt and our Bunny...

Iris histrioides 'Katharine Hodgkin' in the Birch Walk

Our bulbs have been a great success so far at Havenwood this spring, even though they were covered in snow just a week before Easter. The snow melted and they made the perfect little hiding spots around the garden for colorful eggs on brown leaves... Can you find them all? ;)

January Scenes

The first beautiful Crocus tommasinianus forced inside this January

Hello from the snow!
I hope this post find you snug, warm, and enjoying the cozy moments of winter in your region. We have been driven inside by sever cold, snow and ice since Christmas. We are making the best of our winter by keeping busy with school, crocheting and some rest before the spring gardening season arrives. Here are some scenes from outside and in this week at Havenwood....

A Few April Flowers at Havenwood

Trout lily, or Dog tooth Violet (Erythronium americanum)

Gardening in Pennsylvania ~ GBBD April 2014

Crocus vernus 'King of the Striped' in a curb garden.

Welcome back to Gilmore Gardens for April GBBD!

Nice weather has finally arrived here in western Pennsylvania, and everyone I see around town has emerged from winter hibernation with a huge grin on their face. After such a long, cold winter, I think we all need some time to soak it all in. My family was able to spend a few hours at our old garden last weekend cleaning up the beds from excess leaves, putting out a bit of compost as mulch, and cutting back perennials and sticks.

I stopped over another evening, just after a rain. I was able to take these photos just as the evening golden hour began...

April showers bring March flowers...

Crocus tommasinianus at Gilmore Gardens April 1st

... at least that is how the song goes for us this year.

We are just now enjoying our crocuses and snowdrops during a few days of warm sun. I hope that those of you in more northern places in North America will feel encouraged to know that your flowers are coming soon as well!

Crocuses are up!

Crocus 'Goldilocks' at Gilmore Gardens

And under snow! ....but still they are up. Now I am waiting for a sunny day to enjoy them. :)

Spring is coming... if slowly this year. I am expecting to have snow flurries all the way into May this year, so I am starting plants indoor a bit later also. Perhaps we will make up for it with a beautiful fall? We can hope. :)
~Julie

Gardening in Pennsylvania ~ April 2013 GGBD

Blooms for April along the front of our house at Gilmore Gardens.

Spring seems to have finally arrived here in western Pennsylvania, zone 5. Temperatures will be in the 60's this week (18 C) and the sun is shining.... and I have the sunburn to prove it! oops.

Yellow is the theme color this week with the forsythias and daffodils in full bloom. And our pet bunny, Bella, is enjoying the fresh new dandelion greens that I am pulling out from the lawns and borders. (Hint: Now is the time to get a jump on those weeds!)

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day ~ March 2013

Crocus tommasinianus glorying in the sun today!

Welcome to Pennsylvania for March GBBD!
We live in US zone 5 and are just starting to enjoy our carpet of Crocus tommasinianus for spring. Crocuses are resilient little flowers, blooming in the sun for the bees and closing in the cold to protect their pollen. Not only that, but they can be open one week, closed for a week during snowfall, and then reopen again for another sunny day. That is exactly what happened this week in our garden.

Spring is here!

 Crocus tomasinianus with the red stems of Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

Crocus tomasinianus in our backyard this weekend...

Flowers in the Cold! ~ GBBD February 2013

Hellebores orientalis in the Shade Path Garden

February is here at Gilmore Gardens in Pennsylvania! There are a few early signs of spring today, though they are shivering at the moment in 32 F (0 C) and will be even colder tonight as it is supposed to get down to 17 F (-8 C). We had snow flurries for Valentine's Day yesterday instead of the 40 F that was predicted. But it is warmer inside with all of the heart garlands hanging about thanks to my daughter Grace.

Narcissus 'Tete-a-tete' and Crocus 'Grand Maitre'

Narcissus 'Tete-a-tete' and Crocus 'Grand Maitre' in the Hill Garden.

Spring is moving along at a fast clip this year, with most things blooming a month ahead of time. Here is another simple combination that I do not want to miss sharing.  I am so pleased to have planted this pair in our gardens this year: the little cyclamen daffodil, Narcissus 'Tete-a-tete', and the large purple Crocus vernus 'Grand Maitre'. They were planted in several groups throughout Cherry Corner Garden and the Hill Garden.

Narcissus 'Topolino'

Narcissus 'Topolino' in the Front Woodland garden with Crocus 'Spring Beauty'

All of our plantings are ahead of season this year, with the daffodils blooming in mid-March instead of mid-April (see last year). I wanted to be sure not to miss posting on Narcissus 'Topolino', as she is one of my favorites.

Crocus biflorus ssp. isauricus 'Spring Beauty'

Crocus biflorus ssp. isauricus 'Spring Beauty' with beautiful purple flames on alternating petals.

In our urban Front Woodland garden, which is situated in the wide curb strip at the front of our property, I planted one hundred of these pretty little crocuses that have a name taller than they are, Crocus biflorus ssp. isauricus 'Spring Beauty'.

Crocus 'Spring Beauty' surrounded by tufts of forget-me-nots (Myosotis).

Anyone with crocuses will know the joy and incredible patience that it takes to wait for them to open. They prefer a sunny day that is above 45 degrees F (7 C). One of the wonderful things about this crocus is that even when they are closed for a cold or gloomy day, their striping gives you something interesting to look at.  It is quite striking in a setting where it has some early green about it.

Crocus 'Spring Beauty' still closed up as the sun rises, showing their stripes.

When open, Crocus 'Spring Beauty' looks much like Crocus tommasinianus.

Crocus 'Spring Beauty' planted on a dry mound around our mature maple tree with Sedum 'Acre'.

Crocus 'Spring Beauty' should relish in the baking that it will get in this pavement-surrounded garden in our Front Woodland.

Crocus 'Spring Beauty' should thrive in this dry shade/sun garden for years to come. Bulbs often need a good baking for the summer. And these will diminish as the other parts of the Front Woodland planting come up to show their stuff for the season.

Glad to be able to share this crocus with you. I have been anticipating it for months, and I was not disappointed!

For more early spring flowers see: Crocus 'Goldilocks'
Crocus tommasinianus
Iris histrioides 'Katharine Hodgkin'

GBBD at Gilmore Gardens ~ March 2012

Crocus tommasinianus in our backyard at Gilmore Gardens

Welcome to our small-town garden in Pennsylvania, zone 5. We are so pleased to be welcoming spring earlier this year, and are thoroughly enjoying the temperatures in the upper 60 degrees F (16 C) this week! I am sure that we will have snow again, more than one more time. But we are not going to think about that right now.
Everything is popping around Gilmore Gardens. Here are a few shots that I captured this week:

This Crocus vernus in a hot place near our back door is the first of its kind this year. I planted a couple hundred in the front borders, but I expect them later since it is quite a bit colder on the north side of our house.

Another photo of Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks' in the Driveway Garden. This one show the striping on the side petals.

Moving around to the slope outside of our fence, you can see what I have called the "Tapestry Garden." This is an area where we killed off the turf (mowing on this slope, ugh!), and then planted hardy ivy, which has proven to be incredibly slow growing here. So, other easily divided plant alternatives have been added: Geranium macrorrhizum, Ajuga reptans, Stachys byzantine.

Crocus tommasinianus has found its way to a nice combination on this slope with Ajuga reptans and moss.

In the Circle Lawn, Crocus sieberi 'Tricolor' is starting to bloom.  And in the back of this photo you can see the Shade Path, which has a few little pretties also...

Crocus sieberi 'Tricolor'

Galanthus elwesii on the Shade Path

A beauty that I have been waiting for since I first say it last year in Rosie's bloom day: Iris histrioides 'Katharine Hodgkin'. Just a few are blooming now; such delicate markings.

Galanthus 'Flore Pleno' stands out with the fresh compost already in place for the season.

As I walked down to the Front Woodland to check for some crocuses, I was accompanied by my little photography buddy. She soon had spotted what I was looking for and set to business getting the shot:

My daughter in proper garden photography style!

After I waited for my turn, I was able to take this photo:

Crocus biflorus ssp. isauricus 'Spring Beauty' with beautiful purple flames on alternating petals.

We are a homeschooling family, so this is what we call Botany class. :)

We also found this vivid moss sending up its flowering shoots. Such a green delight in March!

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Check out what is blooming in other gardens around the world at May Dreams.

Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks'

Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks' coming up amongst Sedum 'Acre'.

A crocus for those who prefer a color punch in early spring to the cool purples. (That would be my husband, more than myself.)  And even if it is bit bright in March for some of us, it still has its good points: it brings in the pollinators; it can be seen clear down the driveway; it captures the suns rays and reflects them back again in like brilliance.

I have been contemplating making a planting of its paler cousin Crocus chrysanthus 'Cream Beauty' to surround the few C. 'Goldilocks' that I have. It would make a more soothing scene.   Crocus 'Goldilocks' does have wonderful striping on the lower portion of its outer petals, which is just barely visible in these top down photographs. They are have persisted for five years in our Driveway Garden.

Mr. B enjoying his March drink.

Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks' is studded along our Driveway Garden in March.

Would not an overall wash of Crocus 'Cream Beauty' look lovely throughout this area with the gold more intensified in the Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks' spots? I think so.

They made a nice little combination with Iris reticulata 'Gordon', though the iris seems to be later this season or have vanished. See the pair last year.

Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks' open for the sun and 65 degrees F temperature yesterday - a rare March treat!

The striping on the petals of Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks' in the afternoon sun in our Driveway garden.

Early March Flowers... and some snow

Crocus 'Goldilocks' in the Driveway Garden... can you see the purple haze in the backyard beyond? March 1st.

More of early bloomer Crocus tommasinianus in the Back Woodland and the children playing round and round on the patio.

First Hellebores orientalis bloom of the season.

A nice, new, though a bit wobbly, garden edge in the Driveway Garden dusted with snow.

Shoots of Crocus 'Goldilocks', tulips and daffodils uncovered in the Driveway Garden and braving the snow.

The Driveway Garden with a bit of snow, which is often seen coming and going these days. March 5th.

Spring is creeping up on us, though the temperature keep trying to hold it back (20 F this morning). But still it comes.

I have been dealing with some inner ear issues that have made the world swirl about me, but hopefully everything (playing with kids, cooking meals and trying to read, especially on the computer!) will be easier for me by the end of the week. I am still hoping to get out a few more succession planting posts before spring is in full swing; on the other hand, I can't wait to get out in the garden! But both are on hold. My life is a practice of enjoying what there is to enjoy in each day, whether sick or well, snow or sun. I hope that I may lay hold of what is good in life today and be thankful for it!

Happy March!
May the flowers soon be blooming on your doorstep~
Julie

Crocus tommasinianus... in February! oh my

Crocus tommasinianus pushing up through the moss planted by my daughter.

The Back Woodland is home to our naturalized Crocus tommasinianus, which creates the most spectacular scene of the year in this garden area. We were gifted this planting from some long ago gardener/owner of our property.  After a good snow storm over the weekend, it is refreshing to see these little beauties uncover themselves to catch the sunshine. There were no pollinators about today, but perhaps tomorrow as the warmer weather continues?

They are blooming three weeks earlier this year, thanks to the mild weather.

Crocus tommasinianus naturalized in our lawn and garden.

Here is Crocus tommasinianus with Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

 Pretty violet haze of Crocus tommasinianus

Locate the Back Woodland on our map of Gilmore Gardens.

First flowers at Gilmore Gardens

Crocus tommasianus on February 5th, 2012

A few pretties for the start of the year. They are about a month earlier than last year.

more on their way...

Galanthus elwesii

Galanthus elwesii with an upturned head? We shall see.