SnowDrops – A Breath of Spring in an Otherwise Bleak Landscape
Six degrees at sunrise
With coffee cup in hand I walk around the garden hoping to find something to help me remember a garden does not die but sleeps until the warmth of the sun penetrates the depths of the soil warming the roots of sleeping giants and hibernating creatures.
Today I am not disappointed.
Although a brief squall moved through coating the garden with crystals of ice, Snowdrops greeted me with nodding blooms.
Take a moment to view past incarnations of this diminutive plant.
Vernal Equinox, welcome spring
Subtle Shades
Its origins are European but as with any beauty, it is endangered - “Some snowdrop species are threatened in their wild habitats, and in most countries it is now illegal to collect bulbs from the wild. Under CITES regulations, international trade in any quantity of Galanthus, whether bulbs, live plants or even dead ones, is illegal without a CITES permit. This applies to hybrids and named cultivars as well as species. CITES does, however, allow a limited trade in wild-collected bulbs of just three species (G. nivalis, G, elwesii and G. woronowii) from Turkey and Georgia.“ For further information please see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthus
Planting – Often sold as bulbs in Home Improvement stores, Snowdrops are best planted “in the green”, by carefully subdividing clumps. Plants will increase in size by creating offsets, new bulbs that grow attached to the mother bulb. In some instances mature seeds weight down slender stalks and germinate near the mother plant.
Beautiful photos, Bonnie…love the crisp detail of your pretty flowers…the water drops seem to add so much to them…almost like jewelry….
I thought so too! The water drops were actually frozen, I had to touch them to make sure, even the ice was so crystal clear.
Wonderful!!
A few months away from any plants or flowers making their way up through the frozen ground. But nice to know it’s happening elsewhere.
Since I am not a winter person, I often wonder why we stay! Actually, my husband and I are looking forward to retiring in a warmer location, if we make it!
Beautiful photos. In spite of the distance and weather conditions, our Snow drops are blooming at thwe same time. Brother Clyde-Newport News, Virginia (Tidewater)
But tell me, what was your morning temperature! I couldn’t stay out too long because the wind was biting! I needed to come in and sit in front of the blazing wood stove! lol!
Great photos, Bonnie…
My snowdrops are somewhere under a giant snowdrift right now, but once it melts, I’m sure they’ll be smiling at me!
the snowdrops are always a glimmer of hope that winter will soon be over. Seeing your thermometer, I understand why you are interested in Austin!
Please remind me, where do you call home?
North Carolina, where when it snows, it usually melts the next day. Saturday’s high, day of the snow, was 34. Sunday was 56.
Can I come visit lol!!
I’m sure we could thaw you out!
Spectacular photos! Those snowdrops are so gorgeous!
Thank you! I dug them up last spring at a farm down the road.