January Plants for Pollinators – Crocus tommasinianus with Pollen laden Anthers – Crocuses are pollinated by Moths, Beetles and Bees and are a source of nectar for some early Bees.
Wordless Wednesday – Crocus tommasinianus with Pollen Laden Anthers
Gardening Jules
Birds, Bees, Flowers, Trees – Organic & Wildlife Friendly Gardening
Gardening Jules 
Beautiful capture of the beauty of the crocus.
For the first time yesterday I noticed the delicate scent too. 🙂
Lovely! I can’t wait to see my first crocus. It usually entails lots of shrieking and a little dance of happiness! 🙂
I feel just like that too Cathy! I have a few just starting to flower in a sheltered part of my garden, but a couple of weeks ago before the cold snap we saw a whole swathe in flower whilst out on a walk. Hope you see yours soon. 🙂
Beautiful photograph, you can see the spots of pollen on the petals. Amelia
So far, I only have a few in flower but they are cheerful and uplifting, a sign of things to come I hope. Only a few insects about, a wasp oddly appeared in our kitchen last week and a few unwelcome house flies presumably both with the warmer weather we have this winter, I haven’t seen any early bees though.
I saw an Adrena haemorrhea on a dandelion two days ago. Poor thing, she did not move. I think the warm weather had fooled her. We still have had no winter.
I have just seen your post on her Amelia, we have not had a proper winter here either just a week long cold snap and lots of rain and strong wind/gales, I’d rather a normal cold winter and then a decent Spring.
Beautiful close-up Julie!
Thanks Clare, I think you are due the forecast sunshine where you are tomorrow, hopefully we will both see some more crocuses open up!
Wonderful!
Wow, is that flowering already? seems we’re on the same subject this week:)
I only have a few in a sheltered part of my garden already in flower, lots of crocus leaves elsewhere with a promise of more to come though. I loved your post last night, hopefully with more awareness of whats good for pollinators and our beleaguered insects gardeners can start to make a difference.
Leaves are showing here but no flowers yet. Yes, we all need to do what we can to raise awareness. Had petition in my inbox this morning regarding banning neonicotinoids in USA and will blog that later too.
Such wonderful colors, they could melt cold hearts.
They always make me feel a lot more cheerful Marian. 🙂
Stunning macro. I love crocuses and have seen some of those early bees already enjoying the pollen.
Thanks! The weather seems to be milder in London than Bedfordshire as you have more wildflowers in bloom so more choice for any early insects out and about.
Julie, this is a beautiful photograph! The colors are spectacular and so pretty with just that little dusting of orange pollen. I’m always amazed at how nature can color coordinate so perfectly and so effortlessly.
Really lovely!
– Kate
Mother Nature is rather wonderful, I love these bright colours together, so cheerful and uplifting, especially in late winter, but guess thats why they are so bright to let any early pollinators know where they are.
So pretty, Julie. And calming too. Thank you and my best to you.
Hi Cynthia, Thank you, just a small amount of colour in late winter brings a hope that Spring will not be far away. My best to you too. 🙂
Gorgeous image; the colour contrast between orange and purple is amazing.
I guess the colour is to alert any early bees to come and find the nectar if needed, it certainly attracts me!
Nice focus showing the detail of the stigma. I love the fallen pollen on the petals too.
There’s also a lovely delicate scent, I noticed for the first time this week, but then I was a lot closer than normal am to a crocus. 🙂
Great macro photo Julie.
Thanks Brian 🙂
Lovely! This is one of my favorite Crocus, plus the rabbits seem to leave them alone.
Mine too Jason, so far our garden has escaped the attentions of rabbits but I can well imagine how thoroughly annoying they must be.
Gorgeous shot!
Thank you! 🙂
Gorgeous photo of a stunning flower!
Thanks Jenny, they are so cheerful on a grey day or any winter day for that matter!
Beautiful picture, Julie. My crocuses are all being killed by blackbirds this year, I’m so upset about it. 😦
Oh no Annette, thats frustrating, I have heard of Pheasants attacking crocuses but not blackbirds, have you tried some windfall apples as a distraction, hope they have left you a few at least.
I was thinking more in terms of shotguns 😉
Noooooo, don’t do it Annette, try the apples!
Lovely photo Julie, of our favourite Crocus, and they look fab on their own like this or en masse. I don’t think you can have too many of them, but even I had to gawp at an image on another NGS snowdrop garden in North Wales , which we found this week… we scrolled thro’ their pics after reading about acres of them. Have a look… http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden/Garden.aspx?id=9624
BW
Julian
BTW, I meant to say that sadly the rabbits do chew off the leaves with us …it’s safety in numbers though..for now..the more the merrier!
Wow, just followed your link, I have never seen Crocuses on this scale, that must be even more spectacular in person. Thanks for sharing Julian.
It will be a long time before these little guys show up here. But I’m always happy to see them. It means spring isn’t far off. 🙂
Tammy, I just went back to your site as I could not remember which zone you are in and still not sure, we’ve had an unseasonably mild winter here hence an early show. But like you they do make feel Spring is not too far off. 🙂
I’m zone 7A. 🙂
Such a happy flower Julie. Glad you’re seeing signs of winter abating. I’m wildly and unreasonably optimistic we’re heading into early spring, maybe just wishful thinking, but I’m starting to feel like I should be getting the garden ready.
I know how you feel Susie, I have very itchy fingers and cant wait to tidy up some of my over wintering borders.
Oh I wish mine were up soon…a couple more months at least here.
Oh Donna, that does seem like a long time to wait, I hope in the meantime there are other winter plants to enjoy.