Autumn will arrive at 5.18 pm today, but my autumn crocuses ( plural also crocus or croci ) made their entrance more than 2 weeks ago.

Some years they bloom a few weeks later.

10.8.08

They are called naked ladies because they have no leaves accompanying them.

10.15.06

The leaves will appear after the flowering, unlike the spring crocus (genus crocus, family Iridaceae).

10.19.06

Autumn crocus belongs in the genus colchicum, family Colchicaceae. There are about 60 species of perennial plants that grow from corms (underground, swollen plant stem - served as storage organ to survive winter, drought, heat, etc.).

I planted several corms many years ago when only the light purple flowers were available.

Now you can purchase the corms, referred to as bulbs, for yellow, pink and white flowers.

They also attract lots of bees.

9.15.09

Autumn crocus must be planted in autumn for the following year's flowering... which means I should place my order right after I finish this blog entry, if I want to see how the yellow, pink and white autumn crocus will look in my garden this time next year.