Fall Crocus

Fall Crocus send up their flowers with no greens in the fall. The pistils are the source of Saffron a well known herb most notably used in Paella.
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Mom grows her Fall Crocus in a field of gravel. In the spring the bulbs send up greens which die off after a few weeks. They use this time to build their vitality for the blooming shown here.
The Fall Crocus bloom about the same time the Crab Apple Tree starts dropping its apples.
Nice close up of a wide open invitation to the pollinators.
In the morning, each and every morning, the flowers are closed, waiting for the warmth of the sun to open before accepting the pollinating bees. Unfortunately being hybrids the flowers are sterile and all the fun the bees are having will have no affect on the plant.