Crocus

I missed the time when I saw the early spring bloomers: e.g. crocus for the first time.

It was late winter, @UMIST, Manchester about 15 years ago. 

Spring has nearly there, with strong winds, rain and sunny days in between. It was such an unpleasant transition time.










But, hey look, I saw many green grass-like leaves at the campus lawn one day. Then, some blooms. Yellow, purple, white, even pink flowers were blooming...

 
...even this stripes crocus looked amazingly stunning.

















They become such a wonderful carpet at many botanical gardens. 

Actually, there is also 'autumn' crocus that blooms in every late summer/early autumn. I saw this type @Oldenburg Botanical Garden last summer.

The stigma of autumn crocus, called saffron, is an expensive spice to make aromatic/fragrant dishes. The spice saffron is from genus Crocus sativus.

I was so blessed... being able to enjoy crocus once more in Europe last March.  

Such a fresh welcome from the land for the spring season...



Pekanbaru,