Dear Friends, I have been busy with fall meetings involving Iris and peonies, it was just today I toured the whole garden and found fall crocus starting up. Crocus speciosus - one of the most reliable for this climate and readily available. The impossible thin floral tube has trouble staying up, but even resting on he ground the ethereal color is a wonder. Crocus speciosus alba- same in white, but my clone is smaller, but bright white and generally less easy to come by. Crocus banaticus -just starting and my favorite. Only one small clump so far, but this is a unique species in the genus and more difficult to find than it should be. I just got 2 white flowered forms to add to my light and darker purple forms, but none of these have bloomed yet. Blooms in the shadiest spots here. These are my primary fall crocus plus.. Crocus sativus or Saffron. We have upwards of 100 bulbs in the ground, but they don't all bloom every year. We try to harvest all the stamens and usually manage to parse out saffron for a few dishes. It is a terrific aroma drying in a small dish on the kitchen table. Really should acquire a few more bulbs every year as there is no way anyone could have too many Is there? These are my mainstay reliable fall blooming crocus. Anyone else? Best Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +