Spring is Springing!

The crocus is one of the hardiest and earliest bloomers of the spring. Planted in bunches they display as a carpet of color. I did not realize that saffron comes from the stigma of the Crocus sativus, which has red stigma. There are about 30 culitvated variations of the crocus, ranging from white to violet, yellow and all shades in between.

Although the warm sun has brought us the early girls, there were a few fall leftovers that were stunning...

{a dried Rose of Sharon pod}

{a dried bunch of bittersweet}