In today's Baltimore Sun, I write about crocuses and suggest that you order your bulbs soon because the crocus corms, planted only 3 or 4 inches deep, should go in the ground early enough to allow their root systems to develop before cold weather shuts things down.

I asked Scott Kunst of Old House Gardens and Becky Heath of Brent and Becky's Bulbs if they suggested planting crocuses in the lawn - and I got two different answers.

Scott said he had seen it done, but most often in England, where the grass resembles a putting green.

"Any guy worth his salt here in America has a big, beefy lawn," he said. "Crocuses might not be able to compete with that lawn."

Becky disagreed and, as a matter of fact, the photo that accompanies my column in today's Sun is of crocuses planted in the lawn.

"With all the different colors, you can design rainbows, stained glass, make happy faces," she said. She also recommended involving children in gardening by planting crocuses to spell their names.

If you think your grass might overwhelm your crocuses, try planting some among groundcovers, such as lamb's ear or sweet woodruff.

The crocus at right is the heirloom bulb tommasinianus Pictus, one of the "tommie" crocuses that are somewhat rodent resistent, and Scott's favorite. The one below is of chrysanthus "Advance," which Becky likes because it is actually two colors - peachy-yellow when it is open in the morning and lavender and white when it  is closed in the evening.)