Tag: saffron

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11/05/2023 saffron harvest

I’m holding a small clear quilted jam jar filled with 24 bright red threads of saffron
Today we found there were eight flowers in the backyard saffron, which at three threads each gave us 24 saffron threads! Now they sit in a jar in the plant window, with a loose lid to protect from cat ideas. This lets them dry out a bit before they join the spice cabinet. Very few bulbs are blooming so far, which I suspect is because I divided them extensively this spring. Probably next year we’ll have a lot!
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11/04/2023 saffron season

A big fuzzy bumblebee visits the purple streaked petals and yellow and red center of a saffron flower.
The original saffron patch after being divided this spring has three plants big enough to flower! A bumblebee was visiting one!
A cluster of several saffron plants with two buds and one open flower
I didn’t divide this patch very well oops.
I hold a single saffron plant with two green leaves coming out of the ground with a slight pale sheath around the base near the soil
In the front yard, I had planted three patches the last two seasons. So far only one is up and no visible flowers. someone else here near Norman had several at this stage. I think the smaller bulbs don’t flower the first season and need to grow more.
Half a dozen saffron plants with long thin green leaves in a clay pot, from above. The middle plant has a fully open flower.
Judy reports one flower from her bulbs planted in the spring after the division! Hers are in a pot.
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04/15/2023 saffron city

My saffron bulbs in the prairie area were looking a bit crowded based on their leaves. This is my second time dividing them. I only did one clump last year in case I accidentally killed them by doing this.
I am experimenting by putting some of the bulbs in the shadier but still dry area under a yaupon holly. Briar finds this boring.
There were so many bulbs in these five clumps I was able to divide to share with nine people and still have more than enough leftover to spread more in our yard.
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12/15/2022 luxury yogurt dessert shrikhand with garden saffron

Saffron soaked in warmed yogurt liquid begins the shrikhand. I read about this dessert online, but a friend also says his mom makes it for certain holidays.
Freshly ground cardamom added
Whisking!
So smooth! It tastes best after sitting for a few days. The flavors soak into the yogurt more. It tastes like luxury.
The next day you can see the saffron dissolving into the yogurt.
The recipe amount was just enough to fill two small jars and leave enough to sample.
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Thinking of summer yesterday

Tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, and chard and roman chamomile in all the rest. We need a lot of chamomile starts as I want to use it as a ground cover around the vegetable raised beds.
Sitting on the saffron leaves.
Gram’s not sure about outside leash time but he’s getting more confident.
He always perks up and feels safer when big sister comes by to check on him.
“Hello big sister”
Maybe he could do without getting groomed. She nibbles him.
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Saffron harvest

Wow!! Paula was just here on Friday and said the saffron crocuses were not open like this. This was on Saturday night.
We got 69 threads, for a season total up to 78 threads now.
Happened to be in the spice aisle today at grocery store. Planting your own is a pretty good deal after a year or two!