Turkey 2014: Crocus wattiorum

A return to the incredibly scenic Goynuk canyon, our timing this year was pretty much impeccable.

Rounding the corner, we found a triumphant Cenk half way up the slope, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. And after some careful negotiating of the rocks, it was soon clear why... where in 2013 we had found a handful of leaves and a single chewed half-flower, this year the rocky slop was dotted with beautiful bluey-lilac flowers of Crocus wattiorum, complete with black anthers and contrasting bright red style. One of the area's real specialities, only relatively recently described and known from just a handful of sites... and pretty impressive, as crocuses go!