Autumn

Lovely chequerboard pattern on the petals.

Sheila
I like them and they are better off in the ground if you can keep the slugs and snails away

I made an organic garlic solution before we went on holiday. The hostas were being badly attacked. I treated them with it and was surprised and pleased with the results. If I can put up some photos I will of before and after its use. There is no sign of our colchicums yet but I noticed a rhododendron has bursting buds on it.

Sheila
quite a few on Goy use that,never tried it myself,but then i am a bit allergic to it makes me bad if i eat it,which can be a problem manufactures and restaurants seem to want include it in everything.

lol Bjs its not for you only the plants and it has the advantage of being safe for Jamie and any other animal or bird that would eat the snails or slugs. It is very simple to make. Bash 2 whole heads of garlic then boil in 2 pints of water for ten minutes. Strain to get rid of the garlic mush, cool and keep in a closed container.

To use. Add 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of water.

If you do it during the daytime it will dry onto the leaves of the plants and will have a much better affect. Just don't do it at midday and burn the leaves!

It is not a long lasting cure and will need to be used regularly every two weeks) to stop future damage.
I was concerned that the solution would stink the house out but that did not happen.

Jamie is happy now has his daily intake of falling Pears

No sign yet of my Colchicums.

Siris .Whats wrong with Hampshire then normally a lot better growing conditions for them.

What prompts Colchicum to flower, cooler temperatures, Autumn rains? We have had neither of these yet.

Siris
in the wild the bulbs are baked for several months in summer then the Autumn rains trigger the growth and flowering,the bulbs often position themselves quite deep in the ground and while the bulb is hot and dry live roots persist deep down.
in my own garden I have found the small growing Var easier to keep happy where I am constantly wet.

I just have the common Colchicum autumnale. Whilst digging my borders now the ground is still bone dry to at least 12" down. Even the expected torrential rain in the South, skirted us, but believe The New Forest and Portsmouth area had flooding.

The C. agrippinum you gave me has popped up and looks to be much sturdier than the other colchicums have. They were knocked down in the heavy rain we have been getting.