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In spring things start to move quickly in the garden. The first shoots soon become the first leaves of re-emerging plants. Flowers arrive, dazzle us with their vibrant colours, and disappear again. There’s always something new coming along to replace the flowers that have gone before.
The busyness of spring means that I often miss photographing some of the flowers in the garden. Every year I tell myself that I’ll try to get them all, but that doesn’t happen. There are usually too many things demanding attention at the same time (a new pond this year), so some things just don’t get photographed.
These crocuses are an example of my ‘misses’. The pictures here are from last year. This year I was too slow with them. I certainly noticed the crocuses when first the yellow, and then the purple and the purple and white flowers opened wide in the sun. And I did take time to enjoy the sight of them. But somehow I was always too busy to have my camera in hand whenever I was near them. By the time I’d thought of it, they’d started to go over. Shame. But I’m glad that I did make the effort to take photographs soon enough last year.
This spring the crocuses seem to have gone over more quickly than usual due to the very warm weather we’ve had. One minute their flowers were gleaming in the sunshine and the next there were what looked like shreds of tattered silk on the ground. The crocus flowers arrived suddenly and departed just as suddenly. Next year I need to remind myself that they may not be around for long and to take photographs as soon as I have the chance.
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
Apart from the colours, I also love the glistening edges on the petals in your lead photo!
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Thanks Liz! You really get the impression that these little flowers enjoy the sun. 🙂
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They do seem to be fleeting plants. One day leaves, the next day flowers and then whoosh! Gone in a moment. But at least they have that time pretty much to themselves (snowdrops and winter aconites excepted)
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I can’t keep up with the plants in my garden in spring – I’m all ‘Wait, wait, I wasn’t ready for you to go!’ I have a fantasy that I might be able to photograph all the flowers as they appear (and there really aren’t that many) but sometimes actual gardening has to come first… 🙂
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Some of our spring ephemerals are disappearing now, too. The wonderful little ten-petal anemones are almost done, and the baby blue eyes I photographed last weekend have changed from masses of flowers to scattered blooms. To paraphrase the poet, “Photograph ye crocuses while ye may — for time, it is a flying!”
I believe I just found a theme for a new post — thanks!
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I love your paraphrase – it’s so apt! And I’m looking forward to reading your post. 🙂
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They are fleeting but also very welcome after the snow has melted and been replaced by mud. Our town library has a south facing front so that is the first place we see them. Soon in our yard too although the last few nights have been below freezing and tonight will be in the single digits F. But the daffy foliage is climbing despite the cold. The first is lovely and a color I have not seen here.
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We used to see great swathes of crocuses planted in the grass in Edinburgh parks and squares. One especially would catch my eye as I waited for my bus home or as we drove into the city. A lovely sight! The pale purple crocus may be tommasinianus, but I don’t now have a note of it to be sure.
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I used to look forward to the crocuses when I lived in Virginia. Always a welcome sight after a cold winter. Love the pix above!
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It’s lovely when the crocuses arrive and you know that spring has come with them. They’re such cheerful little flowers too. 🙂
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Your crocus is no hocus-pocus.
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Hehe!
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Ah, lovely crocuses. We still have some up here, winter came back.
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We had a little bit of winter too, but the snow melted very quickly. Chilly here but I’ll be back out in the garden with a warm jacket on… 🙂
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I’m glad you shared last year’s beautiful crocuses with us, Ann. They deserved to have their moment of fame. 🙂
I hope we can all slow down enough to appreciate all of spring’s wonderful offerings. This is a precious time of year and I hate to miss its unfolding.
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There are so many serious distractions this year that it would be easy to miss the delights of spring. Definitely worth taking the time to notice them!
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