Crocus Creep

Crocuses are so spectacular right now that I have to break the rules for this blog and include them even though they are not edible. (Saffron does come from a type of crocus however.) The early mauve variety naturalizes readily, both by seeding and becoming clumps. The later more colorful varieties do not seed as often, but their clumps become larger. Over the years, the one bulb that was planted turns into dozens. Sometimes gardeners plant bulbs in their lawn in a scattered fashion, but often there is "crocus creep" from seeds. The next three photos are from my back yard:


Evidence here points to crocus creep, of both mauve and white colored crocuses:

My hunch is that the gardener here purposely scattered crocus bulbs in the lawn:

Although the following front yard in Kitsilano is a bit derelict these days, long ago there must have been a keen gardener looking after it, who planted a few crocuses, not this many though!