Do you remember my initial work on my veg plot when we moved in? Well, I'm afraid that on a first glance it doesn't look much different now.
The dark pile on top is "compost" that Mr C extracted from the compost bin that was at the house when we moved in. I use the term "compost" loosely though as having looked at it there seems to be quite a bit of non-compostable stuff in there including some plastic. I need to get my gloves on and have a good sort before digging it in to the bed.
In the foreground though something is actually growing in there.
By the time I'd spotted these the evening was pressing on, hence the need for flash to illuminate them. When I looked back a couple of days later the September sun has transformed them further.
These crocuses looked beautiful open like this. Strangely we have just found these four on the edge of the veg plot and a single one right at the other end of the garden. I have no idea who planted them, but I'm guessing not the previous owner as she didn't seem to do "gardening" in the sense that most people mean. They certainly made a lovely surprise though. Any views as to exactly what they are gratefully received!
They are called Colchicum autumnale. (Autumn crocus, Meadow saffron). We get them all over the garden, a nice surprise as they seed themselves.
They do look like spring crocus – I didn’t know that they bloomed in the fall…
…volunteer flowers are always welcome…
Thank you Anjie – I knew that someone would help me name them!
I have to admit that at the moment I would struggle to know the difference between a spring and an autumn crocus – short of guessing by the time of year that they appear. However, with the strange UK weather that we’ve been having these lat few years I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they appear the opposite way round!