Crocus

This time of year catalogues featuring wonderful spring flowers start to arrive. The plants are so tempting and it is hard to believe at this time of year that winter will come and all those bulbs that the squirrels did not devour will rest in the ground just waiting to pop up and proclaim that spring has arrived once again. Sometimes, emerging in stages as warm weather occurs unexpectedly and then Mother Nature decides that it is too early for us to enjoy the warmer weather and brings back the cold. One of my favourite spring flowers is the crocus.

According to Greek mythology, the crocus flower originated on a day when the gods were amusing themselves by racing each other to prove who was the fastest runner. However, for Hermes, whose winged feet made him the assured winner every time, racing was tedious. In his boredom, Hermes idly threw a discus, paying no attention where it might land. The discus hit Crocus, the infant son of Europa, killing the lad instantly. Drops of the boy's blood fell on the surrounding ground. Hermes, full of anguish and remorse, transformed Crocus's spilt blood into flowers. After her son's death, Europa was seldom seen without a crocus flower.

Crocuses are a valuable source of saffron, and contributed to Cretan economy 2000 years ago. Four thousand crocuses are needed to produce an ounce of saffron which is why in the east the plant covers fields. Sometimes, saffron is worth more than its weight in gold. It is no longer used as a dye with the introduction of more economical substitutes and there are no proven medical properties. It is still used in food for its subtle flavour and colour in food like Spanish paella.

The crocus was first introduced to England during the reign of Elizabeth 1. Settlers in the new world brought crocuses with them and those that did not fall victims to rats and mice on the voyage were planted at the entrances to their new homes.

I look forward to next spring and more crocus in my flower beds. Just have to figure out how to stop the squirrels from treating them like a snack food.