What could these be?

This little flower is currently blooming in my garden. I have no idea what it is or where it came from, but it is pretty.

And here is a plant that has faithfully sprouted every year, only to die back or get crispy crittered by the sun. Any ideas on what it is and how to care for it would be appreciated.

AD,
It's Pulsatilla, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/511/

FYI There was no picture on your second post.

Oops!

Could it be winter crocus?

Definitely looks like a bulb.

Dig it up and see what it looks like. If it is a crocus, this type has a flower that comes up all by itself in the fall. The leaves come up earlier and die-back before the flower appears.

If I am not mistaken it was a bulb that is the size of a walnut (when I planted it). What you see in the pictures are all I know of this plant, well, and the bulb. I have never seen anything else. No flower any time of the year, no anything. Period. Just these leaves, and nothing else.

Definitely the second one looks like what is commonly known as a fall crocus, genus name colchium. Really nice foliage in the spring and going dormant by summer's end. Then in the fall, a flower pops up with no leaves to dress it up. They are cool.

whoops! Cross posted. Don't know when you planted it, but they may take a year to get established before blooming. You should have a bloom in the fall. They multiply rapidly,, too.

This message was edited Apr 2, 2008 11:19 PM

Try giving it some bulb fertilizer now and see what happens? It does look like my Autumn Crocus. (Colchicum, I think?)

edit-looks like I cross-posted, too! IIRC, like Pixy said, I don't think mine bloomed the first year either. Now, it's getting pretty cool and starting to be a nice clump.

This message was edited Apr 2, 2008 11:22 PM

I had the same problem with some bulbs I planted a few years ago. green stuff and no flowers for the past 2 yrs. last fall I put down some bulb food and finally they all bloomed this year :o) mine turned out to be spanish bluebells. Not sure if they bloomed because of the bulb food, or because the finally adjusted to the soil? but they did finally bloom :o) If you havent already tried it :o)
Anjl

lol susy, we posted at the same time... great gardening minds think alike?! :oD

Oh, too funny, three (or four?) cross-posts in a row, haven't seen that before!!

I'll go with great gardening minds, lol! ;)

Ditto! and why are we all up at this time??

It must be the sun, we all actually saw it today!

lol, Doc gave me new meds today (had surgery on monday) pills said dont take with alcohol, should have said dont take with caffeine! LOL! I'm wide awake and its almost midnight! :o(

Sun?! It rained here! who sent the sun up North?! LOL!

ADog, That blub should probably be more in the shade than sun, especially after noon sun.

They are. Near the foundation of the east side of my house. Probably only gets sun from sunrise to 9 or 10 at the latest.

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rubra' , I believe, otherwise known as
Pasque Flower

Hi, Karijb. So exciting to see so many people from around the PNW on our threads. Lots of us - and experienced us's to boot!!

It really helped when you ID the Pasque Flower. Someone had brought one in for the plant sale and had Anemone on the tag. Mystery solved. Thanks. They are really a pretty plant. Must find out about them.

Full sun, excellent drainage, Willow.

Ok, thanks.

Just noticed that mine are starting to bloom today! I've lost so many of them over the winter, not knowing about the drainage thing, that I am feeling mighty smug that these made it!!