The first crocus

[osprey_archer]

Spring has sprung! I went for a walk this afternoon to see what destruction the snow earlier this week might have wrought, but the green daffodil spears seem uninjured, and indeed have begun to swell with flower buds: if you bend close, you can see the yellow still hidden away within the leaves.

And the crocuses have begun to bloom! I found a lonely white crocus not quite opened - and then, a few blocks later, a whole stand of crocuses, deep golden yellow.

It would be nice to have a first crocus festival - or at least some private ritual to mark it; but I don't know what that would be. I shall have to give this some thought.

***

My quest for a St. Patrick's Day dish is going well, though! I don't like corned beef or cabbage and was therefore pleased to find an Irish cookbook that helpfully explains that those are a regional dish within Ireland anyway, so I've dispensed with them with a clean heart and have been trying other recipes.

I'm leaning toward potato pancakes. Nothing is more festive than crispy golden potato pancakes (served with sour cream & chives, although I haven't managed to arrange the chives part, whoops). However, my friend Caitlin has also suggested Guinness cookies, and I've heard tell of Guinness chocolate cake, so... Well, in the name of science I ought to give those a try too, don't you think?

Comments

[sovay]

It would be nice to have a first crocus festival - or at least some private ritual to mark it; but I don't know what that would be. I shall have to give this some thought.

I like this idea. My mother always comments on the first crocus of the year when she sees it—sometimes she sends photographs.

[osprey_archer]

I did send a number of people crocus photos this year, it is true. So there's that at least!

[missroserose]

Oooo. I do love me some potato pancakes. :) And you can never go wrong with Guinness chocolate cake.

[osprey_archer]

I think that I have to experiment with Guinness chocolate cake. For justice!

[asakiyume]

A first crocus festival would be a *lovely* thing. Maybe it could feature stuff flavored with saffron, although man, that would make the dish(es) more expensive.

Guiness chocolate cake or cookies sound *awesome*

[osprey_archer]

Aren't there saffron-flavored buns? That might spread out the saffron enough to make the treats affordable.

Maybe saffron buns could be just one of the goodies on offer at the festival. There must be other early-spring type foods that would work - although crocuses are so early in spring that I think even asparagus and other early-spring things aren't quite ready yet...

[brigdh]

Ooh, I love potato pancakes. Though Guinness cookies sound excellent too!

I support your idea of a first crocus festival. I always get so excited to see the first spring flowers – the crocuses, the daffodils, the tulips, the hyacinths. It's such a wonderful sign of life and warmth after all winter long.

[osprey_archer]

Honestly the potato pancakes may have been doomed as a St. Patrick's day treat by their own deliciousness: I want to eat them all year long. So clearly there is nothing for it but to try the Guinness chocolate cake! (Time is getting short, so the Guinness cookie recipe may have to wait for another year.)

There could be a whole string of spring flower festivals: crocus and then daffodil and finally culminating with the tulips. I'm envisioning festive flower-shaped lanterns, dancing children, possibly pancakes of some kind? Pancakes are a classic spring food to celebrate the sudden abundance of eggs & milk...