Grape Hyacinth: The 25th Flower of Spring!

[best appreciated at full size against black]

Sometime before Steve and I moved here, one of the previous owners planted a bunch of different bulbs that we've enjoyed every year! Crocus, daffodils, irises, garlic, and these little beauties! These Grape Hyacinths are very small and grow along our road in a few places, but I don't see them if I'm not looking because they are shorter than much of the grass growing up all around them!

Grape Hyacinths are also known as "Baby's Breath" and more properly by their genus name, "Muscari". I was very surprised to find out that they aren't related to hyacinths at all, which are much larger, fragrant, and delicate flowers. They were once classified as a lily but now have their own genus, Muscari. Believe it or not, they are in the same family as asparagus!!! There are about 40 different wild specias of this easy to grow, hardy flower, and many cultivated varieties are available too, in a rainbow of colors!

If you would like more information about this wonderful plant, Wiki has a great source here: Wiki: Muscari
If you're interested in seeing some of the different colors of cultivated Muscari, you can see many here: John Scheepers: Muscari

I've uploaded two other pictures today and I hope you'll visit them too!

Thanks to all of you who have visited and have left comments and favorites! I try to go to all of your pages within a day or two and is a highlight for me to see your beautiful photography! :)

NOTE! I have finally updated my profile and I hope you'll take a look to find out a little more about me and how important all of you are to my experience here on Flickr!
www.flickr.com/people/sfhipchick/

This image was taken in April, 2012.