Page A-10
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Just in time for spring, crocuses are here
Christy Solo
IVN Contributing Writer
(Photo by Dan Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
After making an arrest of a man using a stolen credit card, Josephine County
Sheriff’s deputies educate Floyd Greenlee Jr. and his dog Bonnie about jay-
walking.
Lions
...
Continued from A-1
Because poor vision and hearing can
affect a child in diverse ways, Young and his
colleagues derive much fulfillment from the
feedback they receive that shows how children
have benefited from the program. “I’ll relate
a story that illustrates the positives of the
screenings. Recently, I was approached by a
teacher who wondered if a vision impairment
could be playing a role in the disruptive,
uncontrollable behavior of a certain student.
SCAM
...
Continued from A-1
2) You are pressured
to act quickly: Scam artists
are very good at pretending
to have “limited time only”
offers or “inside information”
that is designed to get you
to act quickly and make an
irrational decision. (This is the
tactic they used with Benson
– telling her to send cash
overnight for her grandson.)
Don’t fall for those tactics. If
After testing showed that he had an off-the-
scale vision problem, the teacher was delighted
that at least part of the underlying problem had
been found. I’m dying to see how the student
is doing when I go again next year.
“We get heartwarming letters from
children exclaiming that they can see road
signs for the first time or relishing the fact
that they no longer have to sit in the front of
the classroom. Grateful letters also come from
parents and teachers that tell how a child’s
glasses have improved his or herability to read,
communicate or pay attention. Based on the
responses, which have been very motivating, I
know we’re doing a good service.”
the offer is legitimate it will
still be there tomorrow.
3) The third red flag
is a really simple one - if it
seems too good to be true, it
probably is: Scam artists have
a knack for making people
believe that they’ll be better
off if they take the deal. But
what really happens is that the
scammers are the ones who
are better off — they leave
with your money, and you’re
left with nothing from the too-
good-to-be-true promises that
were made.
To report fraud or
Few things tell us “Spring has sprung”
with as much clarity and vibrancy as the crocus
flower. Crocuses are in the genus Iridaceae,
little cousins of Iris. Spring blooming crocuses
bloom as early as January in some areas, but
typically burst forth in February and March
here in Southern Oregon.
In addition to being gorgeous little
flowers, crocus have a laundry list of uses
and a history dating back thousands of years.
Not only are crocuses a welcome sight for us
after the monochrome winter months, but for
early rising pollinators they are a literal oasis
filled with nectar and pollen to help get them
going after their long hibernation. Pictured is
a male Andrena mining bee, mining bees are
some of the first bees to arrive in spring. If you
have crocuses in your yard, you are also likely
to spot bumblebee queens enjoying them.
Bumblebees will often even sleep in the crocus
flower at night, the blossoms close up at night
providing both food and protection.
The word “crocus” showed up in the
14th century, derived from the Greek word
“krokos”, meaning “saffron.” Yep. The fall
blooming crocuses, which have reddish/orange
stigmas, are also known as saffron flowers and
are the source of the spice of the same name.
Any dish made with authentic saffron is truly
a dish fit for a king. It takes 150 flowers and
a lot of labor to produce just a single gram of
saffron spice. It ranges in price from $2,000 –
$10,000 per pound, leaving caviar and truffles
in its rusty red dust as it reigns supreme as the
world’s most expensive food.
I have never used or tasted saffron, but
I have read, “Its flavor and distinct aroma
elevate its surrounding flavors into something
ethereal.”
It is no wonder that the Hittites who
lived on the Anatolian plateau about 2000
BCE gave the crocus a spotlight role in their
spring festival. Frescos in Akrotiri on the
volcanic island of Thera (Santorini) depict
saffron plantations in the second millennium
BCE. In the Bronze Age, Around 1500 BCE,
in Minoan Crete, women wore crocus flowers
in their hair and used saffron-based cosmetics
for a glowing skin. Meanwhile, in Rome
women used saffron dye to color their hair
and dye their clothing a fab “royal yellow” to
symbolize their wealth.
Now that you know some fun facts about
crocuses, you probably want to plant some of
your own. You can find blooming plants right
now at local nurseries or you can order bulbs
online to plant in the fall.
Crocuses prefer full sun but will do
well in a partially shaded area. Because they
are small, you can tuck them in just about
anywhere. You can put them at the front of
flowerbeds (remember, they are short), in
cracks between rocks or pathway stones, or
just dotted throughout your yard. Crocuses are
not fussy plants and will do well just about
anywhere - in any type of soil. When you
notice their blooming slowing (or stopping),
it is because the bulbs have become too
clustered. There is a quick fix for this: once
blooming is done for the year and before the
leaves die back (so you know where they are),
dig the cluster up, divide the bulbs into small
clusters and replant in the same area with at
least 6 inches in between. Then, the following
spring you will once again have a garden filled
with color, pollinators and history.
financial exploitation you can
call the AARP at 1-800-222-
444, option 2. If you would
like to read more about scam
avoidance or I.D. theft you
can visit www.aarp.org and
look for AARP Foundation
ElderWatch. Elderwatch
engages hundreds of
volunteers each year to help
older consumers recognize,
refuse and report fraud and
scams. This website provides
additional information
and tools to help protect
consumers against financial
exploitation.
(Photo by Christy Solo, for the Illinois Valley News)
A male Andrena aka mining bee on a purple crocus.
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