Saffron (Crocus Sativus) Harvest. 

Saffron’s fields south of Kozani (my city), the only area in Greece where crocus sativus grows. Here you can find more than 8.500 acres of the precious flower giving about 5 tons of the final product. Greece is the biggest producer of saffron in Europe.

Purple-flowered saffron is a wonderful plant to which nature has given a fascinating fragrance, a beautiful color, and a host of other qualities. 
Saffron has a long medicinal history as part of traditional healing; several modern research studies have hinted that the spice has possible anticarcinogenic (cancer-suppressing), anti-mutagenic (mutation-preventing), immunomodulating, and antioxidant-like properties.Saffron stigmas, and even petals, may be helpful for depression. Early studies show that saffron may protect the eyes from the direct effects of bright light and retinal stress apart from slowing down macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. (Most saffron-related research refers to the stigmas, but this is often not made explicit in research papers.) Other controlled research studies have indicated that saffron may have many potential medicinal properties

Photo taken a few miles outside Kozani, Greece around 16:00, November 2nd, 2012