The snow has finally all gone, today the sun was shing and the sky a beautiful blue! At last I could get out and check on all my lovely winter flowers, no coat needed as it was nicely warm and even the bees were out buzzing and looking for pollen and nectar.
A nice clump of snowdrops without a label, I’m sure it had one originally, by the back door.
A certain snowdrop called Trumps which is spreading through the border, stangling others in its path. I’m going to have to move Spindlestone Surprise (top right) which is in its way, if I want to save it. This isn’t the main clump, just a few that somehow seem to be making a bid for world dominance!
G. Sentinal with nice inner markings.
The hellebores are all standing up again and looking good after all the snow.
Alison Hilary clumping up nicely.
Straffan, another that is increasing nicely.
I feel I ought to mention that all my clumps have started off as just one bulb. Lots of patience is needed!
G. Robin Hood is still looking a bit floppy, hopefully another day will see him perk up.
Ophelia, a lovely neat double.
A fairly new one, Excelsis, nice markings.
G. Augustus, much earlier than usual.
My favourite species, G.woronowii which seeds around forming new clumps where the seed pod touches the ground.
Daphne boluha in the corner of the woodland, perfuming the air around it.
One of my first “specials” G. Merlin with all green inner markings.
St. Annes, a very dainty one named after a church in Somerset, nice markings.
Another of my first ones, G. Atkinsii.
And another first one, Magnet which has increased really well, It is still looking a bit floppy after the snow.
The sun has brought Crocus tommasinianus out making a nice splash of purple amongst the snowdrops.
I have to watch where I walk, they have seeded into the path.
Samuel Arnott, a good “doer”.
Cedric’e prolific, and he certainly is prolific!
A lovely snowdrop but the label has gone missing, who keeps taking them away?
Hobson’s Choice, increasing well.
Anglesey Abbey, all white with six petals all the same length , another which is doing really well.
Diggory which can be identified yards away, with its balloon skirt and seersucker texture.
Wendy’s Gold is another good one.
Lapwing, one of my favourites with lovely inner markings.
Wasp, very slim with stripes that make it look like an insect.
Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early sensation is till flowering, it started on Christmas Day and is still going strong.
Back near the house, Iris reticulata Edward doesn’t seem to have been affected by the snow that was covering him.
amost back to the back door is G. Angelique with just 2 tiny dots on the inner petals.
And at the back door itself the Chaenomeles just keeps on flowering, I don’t think any weather will stop it!
It’s surprising how quickly the garden has recovered from all the snow and ice, lovely to see the flowers looking as though nothing untoward has happened with the weather and today it was wonderful to see little bees buzzing round all the snowdrops.
Have you and your garden recovered from whatever the weather has thrown at you?
Thanks for sharing the photos. I’ve lost labels for mine, but was able to identify them from your photos. My Robin Hood is very floppy too. All the best . Karen
Glad to have been of help Karen, where do our labels go to? Robin hood seems to have grown taller this year than before, maybe this is why he is so floppy?
You must have been one of the first collectors of the special snowdrops, Pauline, to have such big clumps already from single bulbs. It shows that patience is truly a virtue; the snowdrops must love your woodland. I’m glad nothing was damaged by your snow.
The RHS held its first Snowdrop Conference in 1891 Christina, where one of the speakers had a collection of over 100 snowdrops. It was over 100 yrs later that I met my first “specials”, so no, my small collection wouldn’t be considered anything special. Most of the varieties do multiply well by themselves so I just leave them to get on with it. Some of my clumps do need splitting, but I keep putting that job off, thinking of my back. Maybe another job for Neil, the gardener!
Thanks for this hopeful post, Pauline. We’re covered in snow and ice and are experiencing cold temperatures ( -6.) which is unusual for us. Nice to know that the plants and blooms will rebound from this event.
Glad to have been of help Peter! Sorry to hear that you are covered in snow and ice, I hope it soon clears for you. I am always amazed by nature and how plants recover from sub zero temperatures, we are so lucky.
Lovely to see your snowdrops Pauline.
Thank you Chloris. Soon the wild singles will be flowering, then the woodland will look so much whiter.
It’s amazing isn’t it how they all spring back after the snow and ice – I’m glad it didn’t last too long. Your snowdrops are lovely, Pauline. I have a few “specials” but some I planted in one particular area have disappeared. Lovely photos – such harbingers of spring.
I was so glad to see the back of the snow Sue, when it’s icy like that, as well as snow, it is so dangerous walking and driving.I too have had one or two specials disappear, it is so annoying when that happens, I nust tidy up the labels that are still sitting there without their snowdrops!
Out in the garden without a coat…….I am really wishing I could do the same! You have a wonderful collection of snowdrops Pauline. I was given S. Arnott and Blewbury Tart a couple of years ago by a friend so I really am just a beginner.
I too was a beginner once Denise, then I started with just one or two new ones a year and it slowly increased over the next 25 yrs! I keep telling myself I really must stop, but somehow new ones keep coming!
Just loved all these delights, to think these clumps started off as single snowdrops. You have so many delightful varieties, I loved the wasp one, haven’t come across that before.xxx
Thanks for your lovely comments Dina, very much appreciated. I usually only buy snowdrop bulbs that they say increase quickly!Wasp was added to my collecrion a few years ago and has certainly increased well.
I love seeing how your snowdrops are doing each spring. I almost feel like I’ve watched ‘Wendy’s Gold’ grow up over the years! Lapwing is such a nice clump, and I’m hopefully adding ‘Augustus’ this year. It’s aways so exciting to see the gardening year take off again.
They are increasing nicely Frank, all without any effort from me so far.Some clumps do need splitting now, so that is a job I will have to tackle soon, when they have finished flowering. Augustus is a lovely snowdrop, I hope you soon have him in your garden.
As always I’ve enjoyed seeing your snowdrops Pauline. I ask myself the same question about disappearing labels 🙂 Could it be squirrels ?
I suppose squirrels could be the label thief Anna, I wonder where they put them, do they take them home to decorate their dreys?!