Crocus – Notes From My Garden

Spring Gems and Woes

Published on March 15, 2025March 15, 2025 by Catherine36 Comments

This year hasn’t been as successful for my spring bulbs as I had hoped.

Several small pots were knocked over, and the contents spilled out. A couple of others had the gravel topping and compost scooped out. I don’t think that’s the type of damage I can accuse the slugs and snails of carrying out.

The main suspect is the same grey squirrel that has eaten my rhododendron buds for the second year. This garden is possibly the best restaurant for local wildlife in our neighbourhood. But if I see that grey squirrel, I won’t be responsible for what I might be tempted to do.

But there’s another problem – not all bulbs planted in pots have appeared. In some cases, 50% are missing. The tops of the pots are undisturbed, and I’m left wondering if something else has been at work that has entered from beneath the pot. Perhaps covering the pots’ drainage holes with mesh might help? However, let’s get on with this week’s Six on Saturday.

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Welcome, Spring of 2025

Published on March 1, 2025February 28, 2025 by Catherine29 Comments

Six on Saturday

Today, it’s all about the little giant of color – the crocus. I was starting to wonder when the flowers would make their grand entrance, and now, amidst this week of unpredictable weather with rain, sleet, wind, frost, and sunshine, the crocuses have bravely pushed through, their rain-soaked petals shining in the otherwise barren garden borders.

The tiny crocuses below are in a container of mixed-planting and have returned each February over the past few years. The three shots below were taken over four days. To my huge surprise our temperatures reached 12C on Wednesday and coaxed the flowers to unfurl. In the last shot, I caught them just before they closed the following day.

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Blooms in the Breeze

Published on March 9, 2024March 8, 2024 by Catherine33 Comments

Here on the Ayrshire coast, we’ve had a good week of mostly sunny, albeit very blustery and cold, days. The chilly temperatures were bearable as long as I was bundled up, and I did my best to be outdoors at every opportunity. Although I grumbled (a lot) about the cold that the strong north-easterly wind was bringing, I’ve got to admit, it was better than the constant rain we’ve been enduring. It was wonderful to wake in the morning to sunshine filtering through the windows and the birds twittering in the trees.

However, another Saturday has arrived, so let’s get on with this week’s selection of garden images.

Six on Saturday

Tulip humilis. Despite being in the shade, a beam of low sunlight has illuminated one of the emerging tulips, giving it a lovely glow. The hazy effect surrounding it was created by the nearby leaves blowing wildly in the wind. Despite the wind, Tulip humilis stood its ground. A surprisingly strong little flower! I’m looking forward to seeing the other flowers pop up in the pot.

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Winter into Spring

Published on February 24, 2024February 23, 2024 by Catherine35 Comments

Six on Saturday

The transition of winter to spring is beginning and at last, bulbs in my garden are starting to bloom, adding little pops of colour to borders and containers. They’re a welcome sight.

Crocus. These fragile-looking little crocuses were quivering in the wind, but I have to tell you they were hardier than me, and it took a big bowl of hot soup to warm me up when I made it back indoors! Look how well these freshly emerged crocuses have held up against heavy rain and strong winds. Nature is amazing!

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Purple, Pink and Sunshine Yellow

Published on February 17, 2024March 2, 2024 by Catherine26 Comments

Six on Saturday

Glorious purple. It’s always an exciting moment when you find little clumps of crocuses here and there in the borders. I spotted these on Friday morning just after the rain had gone off. They were new, fresh and had held up well against the awful downpours of the previous few days.

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