Crocuses are the first flowers of spring.
crocuses for sale as Manitoba’s provin- cial emblem. Crocus flower buds begin to emerge
as soon as the last snows have melted. They open low to the ground, aiming their soft mauve petals and bright yellow anthers towards the sun. The petals act like a parabolic reflector, concentrat- ing the sun’s rays at the flower centre. The thick coat of tiny hairs covering the flower helps to hold in this warmth. Temperatures at the centre of a crocus flower, containing the reproductive parts, can be 10 C above the surround- ing air temperatures. There are advantages to flowering
early in spring, but there is a downside, too. The main drawback is the poten- tial to get caught by a late frost. Once the flowers have opened, a severe frost can damage them and eliminate seed production for that year. You can enjoy
crocuses in your
garden, but they should not be dug up from the wild. They have deep root systems and don’t transplant well. Crocuses are normally found only on good native prairie, which should always be left alone. Local nurseries can provide the plants, and seeds can be purchased from the Living Prai- rie Museum or collected around the middle of June on the open prairie. If the seeds are grey and come off the
head easily, they are ripe and should be planted immediately. Because they ripen so early, crocus seeds will take advantage of moist conditions to germi- nate right away. If moisture is not avail- able, if it’s a dry June, then the seeds will harden off and go dormant. They will only germinate if they are exposed to a period of cool, moist conditions. The germination rate of newly ripened seeds is quite high, while that of over- wintered and stratified seeds is low. Sow the seeds in deep planting trays on top of a sandy, soil-less mixture that
localgardener.net
Crocuses have a brief flowering before going to seed. The seeds are spread by the wind.
is thoroughly moistened. Light helps them germinate, so don’t cover them with soil. Instead, cover the container with plastic
to retain the moisture.
Normal germination time can be up to three weeks. Select a sunny, well- drained spot in the garden for the seed- lings. Patience is required as you wait for
your first blooms. This is a slow-grow- ing perennial which may take two or three growing seasons to become large enough to produce a flower. But from then on, you can count on more flow- ers every year. A garden crocus, grown from seed, could in time produce 30 to 60 blossoms a year. Want to see some wild crocuses?
Living Prairie is the best bet in Winni- peg, but there is also Little Mountain
Park and the south side of Bird’s Hill Park. Crocuses can be found through- out southwestern Manitoba, wherever there are prairie landscapes or open meadows. South-facing slopes of hills are good places to look. Spruce Woods Provincial Park is also a great place for crocuses. Timing is a more elusive matter.
On the prairies, spring comes when it comes, not according to any calen- dar date. Mid-April is about the earli- est date to start looking. Late April to mid-May is usually prime time, and there may still be some in bloom in early June. This year, treat yourself to a spring walk in a prairie landscape, to seek out and enjoy the crocuses. x Doug Collicutt is a Manitoba biologist and naturalist.
Fall 2016 • 13
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