Picture of the day - March 19, 2005

Crocuses: It Must Be Spring!

Even though we had a relatively easy winter here in Abingdon, Va, everyone is still very excited about the imminent arrival of spring. And the sight of the first crocus blossoms are a sure sign that spring is definitely coming soon! I saw the season's very first crocuses peeking through the snow just a few days ago in a neighbor's yard, so I started looking around for more. Now they are everywhere! The crocus has always been one of my favorite flowers, not only for its hardiness and beauty but also because it is a sign of hope and renewal. After a long, hard winter we can always count on the crocuses to pop up and brighten the still gray days of late winter and early spring. Crocuses are relatives of the iris (which perhaps explains their beauty). Native to Asia and southern Europe, images of the crocus have been discovered on Egyptian hieroglyphs as well as frescoes and pottery found on the island of Crete. Yes, the Crocus has been around for a while! You might wish to plant a few of these amazing flowers yourself! They're very easy to plant and grow, and they thrive in most North American climates.   Picture Of The Day Homepage Interesting Articles