Saffron crocus

Looking out the kitchen window this morning, I noticed that the saffron crocus has suddenly appeared, in flower.  I had thought the bulbs would have succumbed to the exceptionally cold winter last year, followed by extreme heat.

But there they were.  Some of the clumps looked flourishing, actually.

I'll collect the stigmas from open flowers tomorrow to dry  - it was wet today.

I noticed that I'd made a post on Oct. 26 a couple of years ago about the saffron crocus being in flower!