Colchicum
John Grimshaw (Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:57:46 PDT)

Colchicum is at its best here too, making really welcome patches of colour
in the grass and in the border. I find them inconvenient in the border,
because the ground must be fre of other vegetation for when they flower,
which usually means leaving a bare patch all summer (I don't like bare
patches), but now its all well worthwhile. Luckily it has been rather dry
for the past 10 days or so, thank goodness, and in consequence the slugs
aren't quite as rampant as they were at the beginning of the month, giving
the colchies a chance.

I fully agree with Jim Waddick about their value as cut flowers and love to
have a few vases of them in the house either mixed varieties or separately.
Bowles wrote 'All varieties of C. speciosum [but it's true for all] are good
for indoor decoration and when gathered will last for nearly a week in a
bowl,with or without water. They are particularly beautiful by artificial
light, which enhances the red tints of the blossoms.'

John Grimshaw

Dr. John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 9NP

Tel. 01242 870567