The first wave of early snowdrops are now finished and the second wave is taking over. There have been problems with all the frost that we have had in the past week or 10 days, the hybrids just collapse onto the soil and only right themselves when the temperatures rise. The flowers only open when the sun is shining and sun has been in short supply recently, mostly very grey days with the clouds moving away at night time to let the frost in! In spite of all this the snowdrops have put on a good display in the little woodland strip.
Fairly new so it hasn’t multiplied yet, is Cornwood.
A very neat double with distinctive markings is Jaquenetta.
Jaquenetta from underneath, very neat.
This one has green markings on the outer petals and is slowly increasing, name of Viridapice.
One that increases nicely is Cedric’s Prolific. Named by Beth Chatto after her friend Cedric Morris when she found that it was a special snowdrop.
This time we are looking at the leaves and how they are formed. This one is Galanthus plicatus, plicatus meaning pleated, as that is how the leaves are round the stem where it comes through the soil.
George Elwes has just refused to open for me, no matter when the sun has been shining, you will have to take my word for it that it has lovely inner markings!
Some snowdrops don’t increase quickly, maybe they don’t like where I have put them. This one, Sally Passmore, has been with me for at least 10 yrs, maybe I ought to try her somewhere else as she obviously isn’t very happy.
One that is almost pure white is Anglesey Abbey, with just 2 very tiny green dots.
One that always clumps up nicely is S. Arnott, good for splitting for open days and selling for charity.
Another where we are not really looking at the flower. This is Sharlockii which was originally found in Germany and is different in that it has a divided spathe, the bit that wraps around the flower as it is pushing through the soil. In Scharlockii, it looks like 2 ears, other snowdrops just have one.
I thought this one was Sickle, but looking at the photo, now I’m not so sure. Sickle has a curly end to the spathe, like a sickle!, but these don’t seem to be very curly, more homework needed!
Wendy’s gold needs a bit more sunshine to make her open up properly. On the flower, where other snowdrops are green, she is yellow, including the inner petals, lovely snowdrop.
Bringing up the rear is Baxendales Late, not late really, because this one usually flowers in April, I think this year it might be sometime in March. It might be late flowering, but it is increasing nicely.
The snowdrops are making the woodland strip look very pretty at the moment, along with all the shady borders in the garden. Other bulbs are starting to open and add their different colours amongst the white that is forming a carpet with the leaves from last autumn. This second wave of snowdrops is joined by hellebores, winter aconites, crocus, cardamine pratensis and corydalis, how can a winter garden be thought boring!!
I love seeing photos from your garden. You have such a great selection of plants. I really need to get some different spring bulbs into my garden. You have inspired me, so I must make a list and a note in my diary in September to buy more bulbs.
Each year WW, I think I’ve planted enough bulbs, but when they come up there is always room for more! Must plant more Scilla siberica, such a lovely blue, but I think it needs to be bought by the hundreds as they are so small!!
Pauline, I am so envious of all your different varities of snowdrops. Named varities are very difficult to find in Canada, and I would sooo like to have a collection. Love the black label on Baxendales Late, did you make it?
I’m sure one day Deborah, someone in Canada will start breeding snowdrops, then we will be envious of you!! The black labels were just bought at the garden centre, don’t like to see white labels everywhere and the writing is done with my silver marker pen. Most of my snowdrop labels are like this, but they seem to vanish when sweeping leaves up in the autumn!
Your woodland is lovely, Pauline, truly beautiful.
Thank you so much Lyn, it is my favourite part of the garden at this time of year!
Beautiful, I love snowdrops, instead here there is just snow! Your garden is still looking so inviting. Christina
I think parts of Italy have had a much worse winter than we have here Christina, in our corner of the UK, not much snow at all, just frost for the last 10 days. The woodland strip tempts me out each day to see what else has opened up, usually something new is braving the cold weather!
Certainly your winter garden isn’t boring at all! These snowdrops of your are one better than the other and you have many others bulbs adding a special accent. S. Arnott is the one I prefer, because I like seeing them in large clumps: lushness means beauty somehow.
I’m hoping Alberto, that eventually all the clumps will increase like S. Arnott, some bulk up much quicker than others, some unfortunately are much slower. Like you, I prefer the larger clumps, but then of course, they need splitting so that they don’t strangle themselves!!
beautiful as ever Pauline, keep warm, Frances
Thanks Frances and yes, we are keeping warm in spite of all the frost, bit warmer this week thank goodness! I think, for once, you have been warmer than us!!
So fun to see all your snowdrops with labels. Martin Baxendale is active (and very knowledgeable) on the Scottish rock Garden Club forum so its is fun to see his snowdrop.
Thank you Carolyn for telling me who “Baxendale” is, wondered who my snowdrop had been named after, will take a special interest when it flowers in a few weeks time! As well as reminding me which the snowdrops are that I have planted, the labels are there to stop me planting something else in the same spot in the summer when I see an empty space. The only problem is that sometimes they get swept up with the leaves in the autumn!!
Lovely woodland planting. Pauline. I’ve never noticed our snowdrops flowering in waves. I must pay more attention…
Janet, I have to admit that I’ve not noticed it so much in previous years, definitely not in the wild ones before, maybe the singles didn’t like all our warm weather in January and that held them back. I’m sure in previous years the singles have flowered at the same time as the doubles, will be watching next year!