The Single Wildings are now joining in.

Snowdrop time is a wonderful time of year.  January wouldn’t normally have me rushing into the garden each morning, too cold, too wet, but plant a few snowdrops and that soon changes. It’s on with the wellies and waterproofs as the”Specials” have been flowering for over a month now, my very first ones are going over, the mid season ones are in full flower and even the supposedly late ones are showing white and will soon be joining the party, they are all a lot earlier this year than previous years. I have been keeping an eye on the single wild ones which normally are in flower for the third weekend in February (if anyone wanted to come and see the snowdrops, that is when they were usually invited), this year though, they have already started flowering, so they are now 3 or 4 weeks earlier than usual. The double wild ones are just starting to open, a little behind the singles.

Growing on the side of the ditch.

Growing on the side of the ditch.

Far right in the woodland.

Far right in the woodland.

Tucked under rhododendrons.

Tucked under rhododendrons.

Under Camellias.

Under Camellias.

Under Hydrangeas.

Under Hydrangeas.

I had always thought that it was the sunshine that made the snowdrops open up and show their inner markings, however, I went into the woodland a couple of days ago when it was very warm, for January,  but there was no sunshine, it was a dull overcast day.

Just look at Hobson's choice, it is almost flying away!

Just look at Hobson’s choice, it is almost flying away!

Wasp had opened enough to show the beautiful markings.

Wasp had opened enough to show the beautiful markings.

Trumps.

Trumps.

Robin Hood.

Robin Hood.

Elwesii.

Elwesii.

Angelique.

Angelique.

Atkinsii.

Atkinsii. I will move some of these to the front and plant them in between the red stemmed Cornus

Magnet.

The same goes for Magnet. We have enough of these to spread them around a bit.

Little John is going over now, it seems to have been flowering for such a long time.

Little John is going over now, it seems to have been flowering for such a long time, such a large, beautiful snowdrop.

Showing the difference between Galanthus Cedric's Prolific and Leucojum aestivum.

Showing the difference in height between Galanthus Cedric’s Prolific on the left and Leucojum aestivum, the summer snowflake on the right.

The woodland will get more and more white as other snowdrops open and join in the party in the woodland.

The woodland will get more and more white as other snowdrops open and join in the party in the woodland.

So thanks to our unusually mild weather we are able to enjoy our snowdrops a bit earlier this year, with them opening wide for any passing bee, yes, I did see a couple of Bumble Bees enjoying the Hellebores!

Do you have mild weather tempting your bees out and your flowers to open or are your plants safely under a blanket of snow, keeping warm?

 

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26 Responses to The Single Wildings are now joining in.

  1. Alain says:

    What a lot of varieties you have and so many interesting ones. Blooming earlier will no doubt mean a longer season.

    • Pauline says:

      I do seem to have quite a few varieties Alain, and these are just the tip of the iceberg! I’m not sure that the season will be longer as we have varieties that normally flower in March, practically out, I can’t see them lasting until April as they normally do unfortunately, still, I’ll enjoy them no matter when they flower!

  2. Rosemarie Eccleston says:

    Good morning Pauline,
    Your collection is wonderful 🙂
    I saw one advertised recently that had a daffodil-yellow top. It looked quite odd. I wondered if you had seen any ‘live’ so to speak?

    • Pauline says:

      And Good Morning to you Rosemarie!
      I’m so glad you like the snowdrops, they get better each year as the groups increase.
      Yes, I have 3 yellow ones now, I think that will be enough, but who knows! My favourite so far is Wendy’s Gold, which is increasing nicely, but wasn’t quite open when I took the photos yesterday, she will appear soon though. The markings on the inner petals are deep yellow too and I think she is rather lovely!

  3. sally says:

    Hi Pauline,
    A breath of spring air! I need to rethink early spring flowering plants……your snowdrops are lovely. The mature big clumps are my favorites.
    We are still getting crazy weather. Cold and snow then warm and melting. We are in for some cold, winter rain today.
    Keep your bits of spring coming! You’re giving us New Englanders hope!

    • Pauline says:

      Sally, I do hope your weather soon improves for you, your big snow storm arrived here yesterday, but as more rain not snow!
      I keep thinking that spring can’t be far away, but then I realise it’s still January! More snowdrops and other little flowers open each day, so it’s always worth going to the little woodland to have a look.

  4. Your photos are just gorgeous. Snowdrops are one of my personal favorites, for me it is a sign that I can now believe that winter will end and spring is on it’s way.

    • Pauline says:

      I totally agree Charlie, spring surely can’t be far away!
      I’m glad you like the photos, snowdrops make such pleasing subjects, if only they would stand still in the wind!

  5. Angie says:

    I think the earliest I’ve ever seen a bee here is mid February – they’d need their water wings to be outdoors here lately!
    As always a pleasure seeing your specials. There is always one or two to add to my wish list.

    • Pauline says:

      I keep thinking I can’t fit any more new “specials” in Angie, but always seem to find a space somewhere!
      We have noticed a few bees whenever the rain stops, during the last couple of weeks, I suppose it is the warmth that has brought them out , just as well that I have plenty of food for them, I think it is mainly the hellebores that they visit.

  6. Christina says:

    What a feast for the eyes Pauline, I love clumps or better still drifts of snowdrops; I have to admit I’m not one of the fanatics about special varieties but that may be because I haven’t manages to grow them successfully here. A friend has said that the woods near her home at full of snowdrops this year so maybe I’ll try to go to see them at the weekend. Maybe once my woodland path is creating more summer shade I’ll try some again.

    • Pauline says:

      Woods with snowdrops sounds wonderful Christina, please take some photos so that we can see them. If and when you do plant some, remember that they love leaf mould as they are originally woodland plants. They originated in the Mediterranean area, Crimea and Turkey, so they should be used to your hot summers and there are thoughts that it was the Romans that brought the first ones to England.

  7. Denise says:

    We’ve had a few mild days (4-6c) and the snow has all but disaapeared so seeing all your lovely photos I scurried out into the garden as maybe, just maybe, I too had a snowdrop. But not even the tip of a leaf is showing! Just as well really as it is too early to say we are out of the woods as far as Winter is concerned. Even the hellebores have not ventured forth with flower buds yet! I look forward to seeing Wendy’s gold.

    • Pauline says:

      Wendy’s Gold is a lovely snowdrop Denise, some of the yellow ones are a pale yellow or greenish yellow, but Wendy is such a rich deep gold and quite vigorous, so she is multiplying well.
      I feel that usually February is our worst winter month, so I’m hoping that my flowers don’t regret flowering so early. We woke to a frost this morning and now we have wonderful sunshine, but just for one day, back to rain tomorrow!

  8. Jason says:

    Beautiful selection of varieties and they’ve grown into such nice clumps. If the weather stays mild as it is we may have some snowdrops blooming in a week or so, which is pretty unusual for this area.

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks Jason, I think they all like the leafmould mulch I give them each year. Some snowdrops are rather expensive so I only ever buy one bulb of each, and only then if the catalogues say that they increase well! I hope your weather stays mild for you so that you soon have your snowdrops flowering.

  9. Jennifer says:

    It is always so nice to see your amazing collection of snowdrops Pauline. We have fresh snow on the ground here, so even early snowdrops are a couple of months away.

    • Pauline says:

      Thank you Jennifer, you are kind. At least your snowdrops are keeping nice and warm, tucked under their duvet of snow, mine have to cope with whatever the weather throws at them!

  10. Anna says:

    As always I enjoy seeing your snowdrops Pauline – both wildings and specials 🙂

  11. Susie says:

    What a treat to see your splendid drifts of snowdrops!

  12. Chloris says:

    It is such an exciting time with more and more snowdrops coming out. You have some beauties Pauline. Angelique is stunning.

    • Pauline says:

      A wonderful time of year Chloris, with lots more to see each day. I can see Angelique from where I’m sitting now, she isn’t in the woodland, and she is dancing in the breeze with her petals opened wide, showing the two tiny dots of green. I must plant more specials in the border round the alpine scree, where they will be in the shade of the shrubs.

  13. Cathy says:

    Still no joy, so I have added the Golfer as a subscriber and if he gets the emails he can forward them to me! Sorry I am missing so many posts 🙁

    Intriguing that your common doubles are usually behind your singles because here it is the other way round! I enjoyed looking at all your specials – what lovely big clumps you have of many of them. Hobson’s Choice is especially distinctive

    • Pauline says:

      Lovely to hear from you Cathy, thanks for persevering! I was thinking that you could just click onto my name when I leave a comment on your posts, but hopefully your way will be better.
      A few wild doubles have now opened, but I think another week will make so much difference. Hobson’s Choice petals open so wide when they catch the morning sun in the woodland, we have sunshine today and all the snowdrops are looking so pretty, showing their markings.

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