California Gardening: Fall/Winter Bulbs in California, 1 by chrisw99

chrisw99 wrote:
Wonderearth: I think the kind of crocus matters. The usual kind that grow in cold winter climates are Crocus vernus varieties. They usually fizzle in my garden, even in the ground and in the shade--even if some do manage to bloom. The crocus that I have tried this year are native to the Mediterranean area so they like our winters. However, the flowers seem to be smaller than the C. vernus types. So you need to pick a spot where you can see them easily and plant a bunch-25 or 50--at least, that is my strategy. I prefer to put them in the ground which I think stays a bit cooler and damper than pots. But some of the tiniest ones get lost if they are down at ground level, so I do put them in small pots.

Here's a better photo of Crocus ancyrensis "Golden Bunch" with more in bloom. They are planted in partial shade at the end of my walk from the front door to the mail box, and I can see them from a window next to the front door. Their little golden faces really light up the area among all the green plants around them.

Chris

My muscari have had leaves for several months, but no blooms, yet. I usually get blooms in late Feb/Mar so yours do seem a bit early. Must be all that unusual heat in Jan.