Puzzles

[Diane Clement]

Great puzzle Diane, makes me want to go there and have the hot tub experience with a view - after a hike in the mountain, of course.  Can we see a photo of the crocus in question?

Your wish is my command!
The name is applied to this white form collected in the area.  Likes a warm dry summer rest.  I have lost mine to virus    

I lost mine and numerous other autumn crocus to mice a couple of years ago.  Then I found them all growing happily in various places in the sand plunge, where the mice had presumably buried them as a store.  I potted them all up again, but they are still a bit mixed up and I keep finding more in the sand. 
Sadly, I've never seen 'El Torcal' or any other autumn crocus in the wild, never been to the Med at that time of year     
one day, one day 

[Paul T]

Diane,

At least you found them all again.  I know that some have mentioned finding things flowering in nearby woods that were "stolen" from the garden by mice..... obviously buried for later and found conditions suitable for growth.  Darn nice of the mice not to actually EAT them at the time. 

[ashley]

The connection to Easter?

[Ragged Robin]

The connection to Easter?

A great image, Ashley, is it some sort of vine?

[Paul T]

It's a gnat or something on a Fritillaria, but the easter connection beats me.  I am guessing that my 'gnat or something" is probably the key bit that I am missing to the puzzle. 

[ashley]

Well done Paul.  No the fly is a distracter, but perhaps after the answer too

[Paul T]

Are Fritillaria meleagris commonly called Easter Bonnets over there or something?  It looks like that species to me (or does it have too many flowers?  The "square" look to the base of the flower is about right), which had me wondering as to common names?

[Ragged Robin]

Well done Paul.  No the fly is a distracter, but perhaps after the answer too

Looking at your photo from another angle I can see Paul is right - strange how the eye/mind deceives.....
Trying to think laterally - Isn't there a Fritillaria called a chocolate lily?

[tonyg]

I like the chocolate connection ... and the frit is not F meleagris. Fritillaria affinis from America is also known as the Chocolate Lily, it can have brown flowers, so I think you may be on a winner
(I was going to make a link through F meleagris, flowers known as 'dice box' due to the chequering; dicebox - egbbox - easteregg; but I think you have the answer.)

[ranunculus]

So, it's not an aubergine then?!!!   

(The eggplant to all our non-U.K. based members).

[ashley]

Isn't there a Fritillaria called a chocolate lily?

Fritillaria affinis
You got it Robin; well done indeed    
Hint 2 would have been 'also linked to a divinity both international & local'    There's often a clue. 

Clearly my next effort will have to be more challenging

[Ragged Robin]

So, it's not an aubergine then?!!!   

(The eggplant to all our non-U.K. based members).

Eggplants or brinjal make fantastic curries....and sliced and rolled with cheese an drizzled with olive oil, baked in the oven is one of my favourite Delia recipes (better than chocolate) - still eggs...rolling of eggs....curries - rather random from different religions/cultures and I think the leaf shape is at odds! 

[Ragged Robin]

  Oh is that the end of the puzzle    (very sad I was in to another thread of puzzling eggplant    Please put me out of my misery...

[ranunculus]

Ready for another little puzzle?    Species name and native to where?

[Ragged Robin]