I feel like I hit the jackpot! It’s not often that I get all excited over a plant, but this one has me visiting it as often as I can (ok, so maybe I do get a little too excited about many plants, hence the creation of this blog, and the insulation it provides my friends and family from too much plant talk)
I think this snowdrop is a fall blooming version of one of my springtime favorites. I bought the bulbs a few weeks ago at my favorite local PA nursery, Perennial Point, and since they were lose bulbs I (of course) poked around in there to pick out the 10 absolute best (they were all in good shape). One bulb was already sprouting in the box and I knew I had to have that one. Even though the bulbs were labeled galanthus woronowii I had a suspicion they may be incorrectly labeled as are many snowdrops in cultivation. I’m sure more photos will follow once my camera returns from Florida, but for now this one off my phone will have to do in showing what I think is galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. That’s quite a mouthful, but it’s basically the regular giant snowdrop with just one green spot rather than the typical two. Also it’s a fall/early winter bloomer as opposed to the normal late winter g. elwesii.
Nothing is guaranteed, but if you look at the label you’ll see I potted the bulbs up Nov 3, and while its potmates are barely breaking the surface this one is already in full bloom. I wonder what next year (assuming I don’t kill it) will bring 🙂 ! also I wonder what the other bulbs in the pot will turn out to be…
btw, the cyclamen coum is also way out of season, but I bet it’s more due to relief for having survived my neglect this summer than it is to any new and unusual genetic quirk. In any case my winter garden appears to be off to a great start!
sorta like suburbia 
Thanks for leaving a comment on my post Frank, it was good to hear from you. I am so jealous that you have a snowdrop already out, that’s fantastic! I too got a lovely pot of bulbs last year from a garden centre labelled G.nivalis, they definitely weren’t, but I’m not sure what they are yet. It will soon be snowdrop time, my earliest ones usually appear round Christmas time.
I was happy to come across your blog, so much to look at! 😉
You’re lucky to have Christmas snowdrops, the ones here will hopefully stay tucked in until at least February, and I’m actually wondering how well a fall blooming snowdrop will do in my climate. In any case a little pampering will be worth it.
Definitely a reason to be excited and happy, Frank! Snowdrop in November! One of mine is cutely peeping through the soil in its pot so may greet me come christmas. Do you have many of them in your garden? Come late winter I roll around in the mud of a nearby snowdrop wood with my camera – I can’t get enough of them. Dear little things! Enjoy your sunday 🙂
I’m not as snowdrop rich as I’d like to be, and there are no snowdrop woods anywhere nearby. Over the last few years I’ve been buying, begging, and borrowing bulbs and this upcoming spring might be the first one ever where I feel like I’ve risen above the poverty level. They are such nice little bulbs and I don’t think I will ever get enough. Have a great week, and I’m already going to put in a request for snowdrop pictures! 🙂
Oh yes! It will be my pleasure, Frank 😉
I feel the same way! I just started my quest for more snowdrops this past spring, not to successful as of yet. I do not think I will ever have enough Snowdrops! Glad to hear your persistence is paying off that you are steadily adding to you collection!
Great post!
Thanks! (Good) surprises are probably the best part of growing plants
What a nice find. Snowdrops are on my “must get some” list.
You should! They’re one of my favorites. I think galanthus woronowii is supposed to be good for the south, but also elwessii which should bloom in the middle of the winter! How nice would that be?