Crocuses
The very first colour of the year.
Crocuses come up as early as February, sometimes straight through a layer of snow. They respond to warmth: a few degrees' difference and they snap open or close again. For bees this is the first food after winter, so feel free to plant a hundred in the grass.
Flowering month
Hand-selected for quality and size.
Plant from September to November, 5 to 10 cm deep and 5 to 10 cm apart. They do well in sun and partial shade, in the border, in a pot or scattered in the lawn.
In grass there is one rule: only mow once the leaves have turned yellow. Through those leaves the little bulb recharges, and that is how crocuses come back by themselves every year and multiply. Beyond that there is nothing to do.
Practical: Squirrels and mice dig up crocuses. Plant them 10 cm deep, and for the lawn choose Crocus tommasinianus. That is the one they go for least.