Crocus serotinus

 These flowers will make you think it's Spring all over again!

This the second species of Crocus appearing throughout the year in Gerês, blooming in the end of September and in October, announcing the Fall and thus earning the name of Autumn saffron.

You can tell the difference between the two by looking to the female part of the flower, that is bigger and branched in this species.

 Despite it's name, it's unusable as a spice. The "saffron" spice comes from a very similar species (Crocus sativa) found in Greece and Southwest Asia. This one, C. serotinus, is found in western Iberia and Morocco, in the mountains.

 I have also found white flowers in this species, adding colour to the fields of flowers. 

Crocus carpetanus

Family: Iridaceae

February
 It’s cold in Gerês, it is still winter. Things are only slowly starting to warm and you see this tiny, delicate violet flower.

This is one of the first flowers to bloom in the year, just before the spring, sometimes even emerging from the defrosting ice. It was seen by ancient people as the announcement of Spring. It survives the winter as an undersoil bulb (like onions) losing its aerial parts.

 It grows in altitude on sunny hills and cultivated terrains and it continues to bloom in March and April.
 The strategy of such an early blossom is to avoid the intense competition with other vegetation in the Spring.

Curiosities: The name carpetanus stands for its presence in the Carpetanian mountains in Spain, home to the ancient Carpetani people which where conquered by the Romans.