Out Of The Darkness, Into The Light

We awoke to cloudy skies, but no rain yesterday.


From safe and warm beneath my covers, I could hear my garden calling my name.
While Hubbs did animal chores, I headed into the garden.


Despite the rain, rain, rain we have received, I still have a good crop of 
lima beans...


kale and rainbow chard...


drying beans...


sweet potatoes...


sweet peppers...


and hot peppers.
( I spent a good part of yesterday dealing with hot peppers!)


Suddenly I was aware of a brightness to which I was unaccustomed.


What was that?


Oh, now I remember... that is the sun.
I had thought for certain it had forsaken us...
perhaps forever.


I reveled in the sights around me...
the way the light plays on the earth...
casting shadows here and there...
and how that golden hour makes everything so much more vivid!


It was beautiful.
And I was so thankful that I had left my bed to partake in the magic.

I spent a little time walking all over the farm...
looking at everything in the light of the rising sun.


I watched as my world came back to life...
the flowers stretching their happy faces high to catch the sun's rays.


The previous day's mail had brought a package of saffron crocus bulbs.
Where once had grown a dozen broccoli stalks,
I now planted 40+ crocus bulbs.


These will bloom later in the fall and I will harvest the red-orange stigmas (3)
from each blossom.
Once dried, these filaments are the precious saffron that is sold for
anywhere from $1000 to $5000 per pound.
My own personal harvest ( at most, 120 filaments)
will supply me with more than enough saffron for my own use.
50,000 to 75,000 plants are needed to produce a pound of saffron.
No wonder it is so expensive!


I have had good luck with saffron in the past... but lost my bulbs when we
re-built the garden last summer.
I painted a garden marker so that I can keep track of where these bulbs are planted...


Comments

Louise Houghton said…
Lovely post. Is it really possible for sheep to be that cute? Love your crocus sign. Loving the turkey shot! I'm growing sweet potatoes for the second year, first year in my greenhouse raised bed. I found a love for them on a family hoilday to Florida when they were served with our cream and cinnamon. Nom nom,
Louise Stopford said…
Your garden is looking absolutely fabulous. You have so much to harvest and the abundance of your flowers - what a remarkable place. Love the crocus sign.
GeorgiaHoneyBee said…
Made me think of two Beatles songs: Here Comes the Sun. And Good Day Sunshine! 😊
The JR said…
Cool! Love the idea of the saffron crocus. Those sheep make me want to hug them.
littlemancat said…
Fabulous pics, Bev! They are full of joy and life.
Mary
This N That said…
Sunny pictures are always the best..Love the early morning lighting..Nice to see the sun especially joined with cooler temps even though it's temporary..Your flowers look lovely..Good luck with the Crocus'
Lynne said…
Some days the sight and the bright are just right.
Gives one time to bask in the beauty . . ,
Learn something new everyday . . .
Thanks for the crocus, saffron info