The sun did come out for quite a while on Saturday and what a difference it made to the snowdrops. Those sitting in a pool of sunshine opened their petals wide to any passing bee and I was able to get a record of their markings. I’ll start with G. Jonathan who I was hoping would open his petals for the last post.
There was great excitement we we saw that G. Jonathan had opened up its petals, out I dashed with my camera.
A close up of G. Jonathan showing his beautiful markings.
Trumps is towering over Spindlestone Surprise and looks as if he is marching towards it in a take over bid. I’ll have to move Spindlestone Surprise to where it will have more room.
Lots more flowers opening on G. woronowii.
close up of Magnet with its extra long pedicel.
All white Anglesey Abbey.
G. elwesii.
G. Robin Hood, this one flowers later than Little John here.
a better view of dainty G. gracilis than the one I showed the other day.
G. St Annes.
G. Lapwing looking as if they are all about to take off.
G. Wasp doesn’t open its petals very far, but still showing more of their markings than the other day.
G. Hobson’s Choice with petals open wide.
Is this Ding Dong does anyone know please? The marking is like a pair of scissors.
There are lots more still to open, the weather this week is atrocious with gales and rain so I think my little white flowers will be staying tightly shut for a while, definitely not weather for photographing them! I hope the weather is better where you are.
Lovely photos of your great collection. The sunshine really does make a difference, doesn’t it! Thanks for sharing Pauline!
Thank you Cathy, it’s amazing the difference a bit of sunshine makes, we now have the first of our crocus opening and all the other buds are fattening up too.
They are lovely Pauline. You have built up a great collection and you’ve taken some fabulous photos that really show their differences.
Thanks Sue, it has taken a long time, just one or two new ones each year, I’m now getting the drifts of white that I first envisaged.
Sunshine makes such a difference Pauline, to us and to the flowers. You have an amazing collection of snowdrops and although I don’t share your passion for these expensive species specials I’m more than happy to enjoy seeing yours, thank you.
None of mine are very expensive Christina, in fact the little species are very cheap compared to others. I go with what is happy in my garden. I have read so many times that if you can’t grow tulips because squirrels, mice and voles dig them up and eat them, then grow snowdrops as they leave them alone. All my tulips got eaten except ones that are in very large pots and planted low down, so I have given up on them.
They are so lovely Pauline. I do particularly like Jonathon and Angelsey Abbey. Trumps should maybe be renamed Trump Tower! Lol. I do start to understand how folk become galanthophiles!
Glad you like them Denise, they do make it worth while to go for a wander in the cold months of Jan/Feb!
The sunshine has really made them shine out hasn’t it, especially love the ‘Lapwing’ with its big wide petals. It was lovely to see the sun at the weekend wasn’t it. Back to cloud again today here unfortunately. At least the cool weather will keep the snowdrops flowering for longer.
The sunshine certainly was wonderful Annie, all the flowers opened up beautifully, even though it was just for one day! As the days go by, it is getting colder and colder, I think the little flowers will be staying tightly closed for a while!
I planted some snowdrops in the fall, and before we got snow dumped on us I was looking and looking for them, but so far no sign, which has me very sad. Soon, I hope! I love your enthusiasm for them.
I hope your snow soon goes and that you find your snowdrops soon Alison. Hopefully they are just waiting, keeping nice and snug under their white duvet!
Yes, that sunshine made all the difference, didn’t it, but I think they will stay floppy and largely closed for the next week now, having looked at the forecast. Your clump of Lapwing look especially wonderful, don’t they? Your last shot does look like Ding Dong – is it one you remember buying?
We had quite a bit of sun yesterday too Cathy, which had me out once more taking photos, forecast not good for the rest of the week though. Lapwing has been fantastic, increasing so well into a lovely clump. The name Ding Dong sounds familiar, I just can’t remember if I ordered it or not, the only other one with the same markings that I can find is Daphne’s Scissors and I know I haven’t ordered that.
I love it! They look so happy for the sunshine and they’ve all grown well this year. It’s amazing how far along your clumps have come in the last few years. The lonely first year blooms are always a little discouraging, but once they (hopefully) take off it’s always a pleasure.
So glad you like them Frank, they seem to be doing well, they must like the mulch of leaf mould I give them each year! Little single blooms look a bit pathetic to start with, but soon they double and treble, showing they are happy where I’ve put them.
What a wonderful post. The snowdrops in your garden all look so happily at home and beautifully tended, Pauline. Amassing a collection of plants is one thing, displaying them to their best advantage is quite another and I’m always impressed with how superbly you accomplish both.
What lovely comments Kate, thank you! When we bought the house, many years ago now, I had no idea that the woodland was going to become so important to me. It certainly is my favourite part of the garden with all its beautiful little bulbs, a case really of putting the right plant in the right place and letting the garden tell you where to plant everything.
They are all beautiful Pauline. What is the fern next to G. woronowii ? It is a great companion. I have had Ding -Dong for a couple of years now – the original bulb has multiplied but not a single flower yet!
Thanks Anna, the fern in question is the Hart’s tongue Fern, Asplenium scolopendrium, but the old fronds will need cutting away soon so the new ones can come through. This one spreads itself round the garden here, so we are very fortunate.hope your Ding Dong flowers next year!
What a treat seeing your lovely snowdrops. They are much further on than mine. It has been so cold and grey here that they most of my specials are standing still and refusing to open.
Let’s hope you get some nice sunshine soon Chloris, it makes such a difference. Our weather is supposed to warm up a bit this week, I hope yours does too.