FRITILLARIA- a genus of the LILY family-is a spring flowering bulb w/ a distinctly unique appeal due to it's flowers very unusual shapes. Their always downward facing blossoms are bell-shaped, saucer-like, or tubular, some with leafy tufts above the flower.

The best known FRITILLARIA is the 'Crown Imperial' A single sturdy stem holds a ring of shockingly orange downward-facing, bell-shaped flowers topped off by a tuft of spiky green foliage. Several years ago I decided these crazy looking flowers would fit right in my gardens. Spent what seemed like a ridiculous amount for a single bulb and have been carefully documenting it's progress. It will be a few weeks before it flowers but as seen in this image I do have an even earlier variety of FRITILLARIA in blossom.

Photographed on a cloudy morning this image shows FRITILLARIA michailovskyi (aka- 'Micheal's Flower) a beautiful low-growing (4-6") little plant. Each stem carries five flowers w/ the suspended deep maroon-brown, bell-shaped blossoms edged w/ a bright yellow border. Photographing- even enjoying their unusual profile- required laying flat on the ground in order to get this bird's eye view. Next season these pretty little guys are going in a flowerpot instead!