A speaker at one of Shropshire Hardy Plant Society meetings showed photographs of a feature in his own garden that was completely new to us. A crocus lawn. We were so impressed that we immediately ordered 500 bulbs.
It was a slow job planting each one individually. We wanted it to look natural so we scattered the bulbs from a height and planted them where they landed, resisting the temptation to move individuals that were clumped too closely or to fill gaps.
In mid-March things were beginning to get tense as the crocus flowers were patiently waiting for some sunshine to force the buds open. They just stood bolt upright among the grass of the lawn their colours hinting at what we hoped to be enjoying soon.
Close up we could see the beauty of the individual flowers. We just needed a day of sunshine and a bit of warmth for them to open their hearts to us. Fingers crossed firmly!
We didn’t have to wait too long! A day dawned with blue sky above and the sun glowing. In the earlier hours of the day the morning sun glowed but gave heat out that was too weak to reach us as warmth. As the afternoon arrived though, the temperatures rose to the giddy heights of 6 degrees Celsius for a few hours but it was enough to warm our backs and excite the crocus buds into opening. At last we got the opportunity to see if our crocus lawn project was worthwhile.
Ah sweet success! How satisfying!
We have a bag of crocus “in the green” waiting to be added too. We can use them to fill in obvious gaps – next year should then be even better!
I can’t resist putting together portraits of a couple of the crocus in bud and in flower.
Firstly the purple bloom with its orange peel centre …..
….. and then the striped purple and white barley twist blossom.
I wonder – should we call it our “Crocus Lawn” or our “Crocus Meadow”? Any thoughts?
On the morning when I was going to post this crocus lawn post, we woke to another few inches of snow, all very unexpected and not forecast. The white covering gave the crocus lawn a whole new look. The crocus flowers were given a new backdrop against which to perform.
Surprisingly once the snow melted and the sun put on a short show the flowers popped back up and glowed once more as if nothing happened. Amazing!
greenbenchramblings 
20 replies on “The Crocus Lawn”
Beautiful! Just love the purple ones…but then I would as purple is one of my favourite colours.
Bridget.
We are adding more purple ones too!
This turned out beautifully. I love the crocus peeking through the snow.
It was amazing how well they recovered after the snow.
Such an attractive feature, you did very well to plant so many bulbs and I like the way you went about it. Meadow or lawn, both names suit I feel. Something lovely to look forward to each spring.
We are really enjoying it – we keep looking out at it, we can’t help it.
WOW!! This looks so amazing and beautiful!! That must have been hard work to plant so many bulbs, but it sure paid off! You’re right, the snow gave the flowers an entirely different look. Great job and thanks for sharing with us!
We love it! Adds so much interest to the dullness of a winter lawn.
With or without the snow it is beautiful and looks like a lovely spring meadow. I’m sure it was a big job but the end result was beautiful – very satisfying I’m sure. And, thank you for sharing since we have up to a foot more of snow coming through tonight and tomorrow.
I don’t think poor old crocuses would get their heads above that!
Beautiful! Dick still in RSH – no stoma action yet so feeling and being quite sick.
Hi Barbara. We are thinking of him! Looking forward to seeing him up and about again. Please give him our love. Malc and Jude
Yes – I need 500 ! Yours look great. We put in 100 and it looks good but suprisingly small. Ours were on the edge of an oval bed so we were able to cut and peel back the turf, plant the bulbs and roll the grass back which was quite easy. Yellows seem to give good contrast with the lawn while our purples look subtle but sometimes get lost like shadows in the grass.
So we’ll put in a few more 100 next autumn.
We are adding more purples and purple/whites this week. I think we may need more yellows in the future to balance out all that purple.
My crocuses have naturalized onto the few areas of lawn that remain (I’m known for replacing lawn with native plants). That’s exactly the feat that the two of you have accomplished. It’s lovely and perks the soul.
Glad you like them. They cheer us up every time the sun peaks through.
Aw, what fun and such pops of color. They are hardy little buggers as you noticed after that snowfall. It is always the first sign of spring when the crocus peek their smiling faces toward the sun. I think Crocus Meadow sounds a bit more poetic, so I vote for that one! Margie
Sadly they are under snow again this morning. Malc
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That crocus lawn/meadow (I think I vote with Margie) is absolutely beautiful and totally inspiring! We’ve had trouble this year with both jackdaws and magpies oiking the crocuses out of the soil. Reading about it, it seems that they don’t do this if there is no soil around so I shall follow your wonderful example!
They look even more beautiful against the snow! 🙂
Thanks for the comments. Crocus Meadow definitely sound more romantic. Sadly today it has disappeared under a foot of snow. That will test them!
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