Fall bloom

Russell Stafford, Odyssey Bulbs mail@odysseybulbs.com
Wed, 10 Sep 2003 05:08:55 PDT
I don't recall mentioning any early-August-blooming Colchicum cultivars.  I 
did tantalize Jim Shields with visions of Colchicum graecum blooming then, 
but I must confess that I have no idea whether it actually would for 
him.  It (or at least something posing quite convincingly as it) does bloom 
in early to mid-August in at least one garden of my acquaintance (in 
Oregon, incidentally).  From the evidence of corms received in mid-August 
here, it is obviously well into growth at that time in other gardens as well.

It tickles me that I apparently get to enjoy the first flush of colchicums 
weeks before Jane does.  I have always envied those who garden in the Great 
Northwest, but perhaps we in this locality are more highly favored than I 
formerly thought.

Regarding John Lonsdale's comments, as a purveyor of colchicums it has been 
my impression that it is heat, not cool, that accelerates colchicum 
bloom.  We always cool them down to slow them down (nothing more 
dispiriting than several hundred colchicums blooming in their trays rather 
than in customers' gardens).  The Colchicum bivonae 'Apollo' I mentioned as 
being in bloom is well established in a pot, which means it probably stays 
warmer than those in the ground.  Of course, it would also sense changes in 
ambient temperature more readily.

Russell

At 10:15 AM 9/9/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>I was surprised to find, among the many e-mails waiting when I returned 
>from a long weekend in California, mention by Russell Stafford in Michigan 
>of certain Colchicum cultivars blooming in early August.

Russell Stafford
Odyssey Bulbs
8984 Meadow Lane, Berrien Springs, Michigan  49103
269-471-4642
http://www.odysseybulbs.com/


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