Purple crocus

© Raimund Linke/Getty Image

Purple crocus

A sharp eye might spot a flowering crocus, shown in today’s image, around the end of winter season in the Northern Hemisphere and thus becomes one of the first flowers to bloom every year. While some crocus species also bloom in December, most of them are a common indicator that winter is on its way out. Crocus is known mostly as a source of saffron that is used as a spice and dye. Saffron is one of the most valuable and expensive spices in the world.