A BBC World report, about efforts to encouraging the cultivation of saffron instead of the massive amounts of opium poppies. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24928454/ A brief 3 minute video that begins with the saffron, then segues into the opium business. One thought comes to me - the opium poppy is an annual. The plants can still produce seed, even after the scarification of the green pod and subsequent collection of the crude opium. Easy to plant the next crop. As we in PBS all know, saffron crocus grows from a corm. Has to be more expensive to plant the first year. And what about subsequent years - is it easy to cultivate / maintain a field of saffron crocus? Judy in New Jersey where an absolutely clear sky is paired with chilly temperatures - last night's low was 26 degrees Fahrenheit. Our 3 cats are delighted with the wood burning stove. One even slithers underneath and basks there.