Autumn crocus

Today's the day …………………….. for some naked ladies

We had absolutely no idea what these were when they first appeared in the garden last spring.

That was because they have a rather unusual way of growing.  They start off by putting out lots of big leaves that make you think that something big and floral will follow.  But nothing does - and eventually the leaves die away to nothing.  Then, in the autumn, when you've completely forgotten that it was ever there, it pushes up these large crocus-like flowers into whatever is now growing in that space.  And they do look rather strange and bare - which is presumably how they get the name - 'naked ladies' .

You might expect that something that looks strange is likely to be poisonous - and you'd be right.  All parts of the plant are deadly poisonous due to their colchicine content.  The symptoms of colchicine poisoning resemble those of arsenic and no antidote is known!  Although apparently, if you know what you're doing, colchicine is used in the treatment of gout and fevers.

Now that I know, I'll just leave it well alone ……………………..