Spring bulbs: Crocus tommasinianus. Sometimes called the Woodland Crocus. Unlike most other Crocus species it will take a bit of shade but needs bright winter sun for the petals to open and reveal the golden pollen within. Also known as the Early Crocus it is arguably a bulb of late winter rather than early spring- a welcome sight when we are on the cusp of those two seasons.

 C. tommasinianus varies in hue. Curiously the palest are the first to appear in my garden, followed by deeper magenta and plum purple. Since they are basically the same species I don't know why that should be (there is also a pure white form). They multiply and self-seed when they like the conditions; early bees make the proverbial bee line to all that dusty pollen. 

 When they self-seed the deeper colours become more prevalent than the exquisite silvery-violet tones. Never mind: come one, come all.