Many years ago, I planted a small patch of crocuses in a small rock crevice near the front of my house. I planted light and dark purple, white, yellow and cream colored ones. While the majority tend to bloom around the same time, the light purple ones have their own earlier timetable, opening their petals to the sun about a week or so before the rest.
Guess what was up this morning?
As I headed out to my car to go to work this morning, I looked down into that crevice and saw five purple crocuses which were maybe about a day from coming into bloom. When I got home from work, the total was now ten. Ten purple little buds ready to open up because it's been warm enough these last couple of weeks to wake them and convince them that it's time.
It's not the first time it's happened. Since I planted this patch back in the 1990s, it's happened about three times, with one time when they were all in bloom and gorgeous in January. There were also roses in bloom near the hospital in December where I worked at the time. That was a very topsy-turvy winter temperature season.
My little purple crocuses might be in for a surprise come Sunday, when temperatures will drop back into a more normal range. But they won't likely be shocked to the point of dying back, either. Crocuses are a hardy breed of bloom.
And there's hope for a normal spring start yet. My snowdrops are still snoozing.
Only 24 days until Spring.
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