It is time to plant spring-blooming bulbs here in Seattle now. Somehow I didn’t highlight crocus back in the spring. They are one of my favority spring blooms. They come earlier than almost any others and they have a cheery grace that reminds me that no matter how dreary the winter has been, spring is just a few weeks away.

Species crocus like C. tommasinianus seem to be more perennial in my garden. I’ve planted the larger-flowered hybrids and found that they disappear in a year or two. When it comes to photographing flowers, crocus make excellent models. There is something about their substance and the play of light on and through them that really lights them up.

I tried a few more types this last year. They struggled a bit with the weather and the rough ground they were planted in, but below is what they ended up looking like.

Future plans for these plants are simply to add more of them. I order bulbs pretty much every year and then its just a waiting game to see if they come back for a second year.