Purple Promises

So many purple beauties that are ALMOST blooming! We actually got some sun today, but it wasn't quite enough to make this open. This is a giant crocus- must be one my mom gave me. I know that when I did some cleanup in this flower bed last fall there was an odd bulb I could not identify. Maybe this is it, although I still don't think it's the right shape.

Here's another gift from my mom from probably the 1980s, maybe late 70s. I don't know if this will do much or not. Common hyacinths don't last forever. This poor thing has been moved multiple times, but it's actually trying to bloom this year, even though it doesn't look very full. I'll take it!

The 'Blackberry Wine' corydalis is just starting to bloom. It hasn't spread for me very much, but it has, at least, refused to die.

OK, I'm cheating a little on this. It's more blue than purple, but one of the common primrose is blooming nicely. There are several other patches. We'll see if they bloom this year. I moved a lot of them last fall. These may have been a gift from Loretta, or maybe I bought it. I've killed a few.

We are supposed to get even more rain for the next two days. If you are in Michigan, you know that there is flooding and serious washouts all over the state, imminent dam failures with evacuations possible. So... these promises might get drowned or broken so I decided to post before they really bloom.

I was hoping to get in a moderate walk before bell practice, but only managed a short one. Better than nothing, eh? Shopping, errands.

Miles walked in 2026: 142.9

Methodist Trails: 1.7 miles

See Flower Friends

Crocus, Past and Present

When I first began my rock garden around 1995, I had a little more money, a big dream, and a fair amount of naivete. I planted a lot of things that just weren't destined to thrive on my sunny dry hill.

But one of the more reasonable expectations was for a lot of bulbs. However, the small rodents felt that I had simply filled their candy dish. Very few remain. Here are three that bloomed for a few years. The pictures are grainy because I only had a few shots that were very small and I tried to blow them up.

This one is called 'Blue Ice.' It was a favorite because of the blue outside and the white inside. Picture is from 2003.

I'm pretty sure these are 'Blue Ice,' still coming up in 2009. And I think I have a picture of a bud from 2013. I may have had one come up in 2024, but if so, it migrated downhill, so I'm not certain it's a 'Blue Ice.'



Here's another called 'Firefly' that I last saw in 2003. It was lavender with a yellow throat.

Here'a another from 2003. This is called 'Tricolor.' They are lilac, white and yellow. Haven't seen one since then.

One that has survived, at least minimally, is 'Zwanenburg Bronze.' I think one bloomed last year, and I see one this year. I like that they have a deeper color that shows up well on the hill. I'd be really happy to see this spread a bit. You know, crocus are known to do that, but mine can't seem to get with the program.

Last year, I reported finding a pale yellow crocus in the lawn down where the old house was. I think this has to be a remnant of some my mother gave me, maybe in the 1980s. I dug it up and moved it to the rock garden. Here it is! It's had two blooms this year.

And surprise! Three white crocus have now come up in the lawn down by that old garden. I've marked them so I can move them up here too.

In other news: I edited, I took apart the big puzzle, I started the taxes, I did my road loop (the temp was in the 60s and I couldn't stay inside all day!), I worked on a couple of projects.

Miles walked in 2026: 108.9

Road walk- 3 miles.

See So Early! Too Early?

An Evening Walk

 It was bell choir day, and I changed things up and ate before practice and walked afterwards. This was a great idea because the days are still really hot. The evening light is always special. I liked this view of the church from the School Forest across the road.

One loop around the forest isn't very long, so I did a few more streets after that. What are these bright flowers around the tree?

They are fall crocus, which isn't really a crocus at all. It's Colchicum autumnale, but the flowers look very similar, thus the name.

I even found another color of them a couple of blocks away.

This very cool rock was at the base of the St. Simon's Bell Tower.

But the shadows were getting long, and the light was hiding.

I walked 1.5 miles in the school forest, and then another 1.5 on streets

Total miles walked in 2024: 442

See Walking Tour de Ludington

Flowers of the Day

 
I got myself back in gear today. Did two loads of laundry, all my book sales accounts since I left home on September 6, worked on more restoration of my computer (still a lot to do) and then walked to town to the bank, library, and Post Office. There are still some pretty flowers in to town even though it's October.

Here's a colorful batch of fall crocus, Colchicum sp. This is not the same thing at all as spring crocus, but the flowers look similar.



The absolute colorful flower winner was the planters at the bank. They are still glorious with begonia, coleus, petunias, sweet potato vine, zinnias and what I think is some Cyperus. Someone did a really nice job on the design of these.





And I was delighted to see, when I got closer, that the bright red and pink (not the maroon) is a begonia. Begonia coccinea, variety 'Dragon Wing,' which is a subset of an 'Angel Wing.'



It comes in red and pink. The picture above is actually the red one in the sun. It's much more vibrant in the shade.



Here's the one that's actually pink.



I really love that coleus with the gold leaves with just a hint of maroon, too.

It felt good to rest last week, but it feels good to be back to being active.

	See Red, White, Blue, and Lazy
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Temporary Spring

 
There have been some small tantalizing hints of spring warmth, but it's going to come to a crashing halt tomorrow. Meanwhile, enjoy some little happy moments.

A turkey in my yard. I saw some spreading their tails yesterday, but no pictures.



The crocuses are starting to open and provide a little color.



And this little pond had peepers and chorus frogs singing!



Today was busy, busy. I finished the short story, "The Valley." I thought it wasn't going to get warm enough to paint. Then I thought it would, then I thought it wouldn't. Then I checked the thermometer and it was 52 degrees in the shade and it was only 1:30. Ha! I quick uncovered the trailer and got the prep done and the first of the topcoats on the spots I'm painting.

Then I had to clean up, do errands, go to bell choir practice, and then to writers' group. Had to cover the trailer in the dark after I got home, but it was worth it! Had time for a quick walk before bell choir on their short trail by the church.

	See I Found Spring
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