[pbs] A new crocus in an old style
John Grimshaw
j.grimshaw at virgin.net
Sun Mar 25 10:05:18 EST 2007
Despite intentions, I have not had time to reply to Jim McKenney's post
about his mystery crocus and he has beaten me to it with the comment about
'Yalta', which it certainly seems to resemble closely. 'Yalta' (also from a
package bought last year) is flowering here now, long after the tommies have
gone. I was not previously familiar with it. The character I find most
distinct is the purple smudge at the base of the outer surface of the outer
segments, which are otherwise a 'wrong side of the fabric' grey with a
yellowish cast. The tube is also rich purple. These characters are precisely
obscured in Jim's photos, but I can see a purple patch on the inner segment.
Maybe you can tell us how extensive the mark is on your discovery, Jim.
I have long been very fond of 'Haarlem Gem' which is slightly smaller, more
angular and paler than 'Yalta'. I believe a photograph of it illustrates my
NARGS article from 1997, 'Some spring Crocuses'. Rock Garden Quarterly 55:
93-96, but my copy is elsewhere.
John Grimshaw
Dr John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Nr Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL53 9NP
Tel. 01242 870567
COLESBOURNE PARK OPEN DAYS 2007
Easter Monday 9 April, Arboretum Weekend 15-16 September
Gates open 1pm, last entry 4 pm
website: www.colesbournegardens.org.uk
-----
More information about the pbs
mailing list