Crocus are such pretty little flowers.  The first time I ever grew them was when we lived in Kentucky.  I had them growing right by the steps leading up to the front porch.  Kentucky was my first time living where we got snow and, while we didn’t get nearly as much snow as some northern folks, after having lived my entire life not far from the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, anything less than about 45º was cold!

Seeing those little snow crocus poke their pretty heads through the snow each spring was my signal that winter was coming to an end and soon I could begin gardening again.  The saffron crocus, though just as pretty as the snow crocus, blooms in the fall.  Not only does it bloom, but it produces saffron . . one of the most expensive spices around.

Saffron Crocus

Saffron makes such a difference in recipes that call for it but I almost always leave it out because of the cost. Every now and then I’ll buy a little of it and then I’ll just too little of it because of the cost, and end up not even getting the saffron flavor.

For planting zones 6 through 9, saffron crocus is very easy to grow.  The saffron is easy to harvest .. no canning needed!  I purchased 50 bulbs from Eden Brothers (they’re on sale right now) and hopefully today will get those planted.

Maybe by Thanksgiving I’ll have a little bit of saffron to harvest!  The bulbs multiply like crazy and if what I’m thinking will happen does happen, they should spring into action about the time the grasshoppers are gone so I shouldn’t have too much problems with those horrible critters eating all my plants.  We’ll see . .