Yesterday afternoon my Brent and Becky bulbs arrived….. did I mention I bought quite a few during their end of the season clearance sale? So knowing the weather report I was out in the dim light and freezing rain getting things into the ground before the snow and cold came. Bulbs go in quick when you’re wet and freezing, and I did pretty good although there was at least one shout from the house about catching pneumonia or what not…. I beat the snow by at least two hours 🙂
That was a close call since the weatherman is predicting more snow tomorrow and lows around 7F (-14C) for next week, and things will surely freeze solid. Sensible people are finished for the year, unfortunately I have a stubborn streak and a history of stupid ideas put into action. Brent and Becky was sold out of the 50 snowdrop bulbs I ordered so they were missing from my shipment (such is the risk of a late season order). Instead of accepting my situation, I somehow ended up at Van Engelen’s website this morning and clicked OK to 200 more snowdrops (plus a couple hyacinth). Not the smartest move. Better check the potting soil supply 😉
sorta like suburbia 
LOL! Keep us posted on the fate of those snowdrop bulbs, and meanwhile, stay in the warm – hope you haven’t caught a cold! 😉
Oh trust me- I’m pretty sure there will be a few too many snowdrop posts this coming spring…. and these bulbs will be planted even if I have to put on a snow suit and skis to get it done.
-More likely they’ll be potted up:)
We had snow too, but I could be out planting bulbs now if it was not so chilly. Crazy weather since last week was spring-like.
I should really push aside some snow and get the last things in today before the bottom falls out of our forecast. While I was planting the latest purchases I discovered leftovers dug and divided during the summer…. the tried and true just don’t get the same respect as my new shiny things! Thanks for visiting
Will look forward to the photos of all your snowdrops, they will look wonderful. I too take too many photos of my snowdrops here and write too many posts about them, but they do lift my spirits on a dull, dismal day. We also have lots of gardens that are open in February to show their snowdrops to the public, it makes us feel that winter doesn’t last very long!
In my opinion you can’t have too many snowdrop photos, so please keep posting! My snowdrop obsession makes me feel like I was born on the wrong continent, the need to grow many snowdrops feels very un-American.
The one spot in this area where I found a large naturalized group of snowdrops (on an old dairy farm) has been ‘cleaned up’ and most are gone. I regret not taking any when I first found them amongst the weeds, but it was always such a treat to go out and see them in the spring and I hoped that someone else was getting as much enjoyment. I did save a handful of bulbs which were stirred up by the bulldozers.
Are we talking about some sort of an addiction? Did you tell your wife about it? She may force you into hibernation if you continue at this rate 😉 Have a good week, Frank.
My hibernation may have been short lived:) I need to set up the lights for my winter garden since the cyclamen have begun to send up blooms and as soon as that starts there will be snow shoveling and onion seedlings and the year will start again!
My wife is partly to blame for the snowdrops. She described the Christmas present she bought for herself and asked me if I knew what I wanted. I said yes, yes I do know what I want.
She also said I could get a little more after the snowdrops…. if I thought I’d been good 😉
I think that calls for a hooray! You got the bulbs planted anyway!
Yeah! I’m walking on sunshine until the next 200 show up on my doorstep 🙂
Brings to mind the evacuation at Dunkirk. But congratulations in any case! In these situations we are reminded that bulbs really don’t require a lot of fussing. Just dig a shallow hole, throw in a handful or two, and fill in.
Were you watching? Lots of handfuls of bulbs going into shallow holes and then a nice mulching with snow. It sounds bad, but I’m expecting a great show come springtime!
You did do well! Hope your snowdrops arrive when there is a little thaw. I look forward to seeing everything growing in spring.
Hi Christine! I spent last Saturday potting up 200 snowdrop bulbs 🙂 the additional 6 inches of snow ruled out planting them in the ground and the 4 more inches of snow predicted for tomorrow makes me think it might be the best choice!
My theory is that gardeners go mad about Snowdrops and examine them for hours and count their green spots and compare notes because let’s face it, there is not much else around to go crazy about in the depths of winter. Here, enthusiasts have snowdrop lunches and spend hours drooling over each others latest acquisitions. And the price of something a little bit different is eye watering. Have you ordered Galanthus nivalis or something a bit more exotic?
Chloris
HI Chloris,
Thanks for commenting, I’ve never been to your blog and really enjoyed taking a look, I’ll need more time to read through rather than just admiring all the great photos! You have a shameful collection of iris, they have the most fantastic colors and ruffling and are exactly what I’ve been trying to resist falling for over the last few years.
I think you are correct in that part of the lure of snowdrops is their early season. They’re the perfect excuse for dragging yourself outside on an otherwise less than perfect chilly spring day with their bright green shoots and pure white blooms. I could easily become addicted, but like you say the prices can be eye watering and I think they’re even higher over here! My bulbs are mostly galanthus elwesii since they seem to like the dry summer soils here. There’s nothing fancy in my order, but the natural variations always give me something special!
Frank
Ah yes I did the exact same thing with Brent and Beckys clearance and then on to Van Engelen’s. But we will have a spring full of Snowdrop flowers and in my case Snowdrops, Daffodils and Tulips! 🙂
I love how you used what you had. The sumac and dogwood always make a nice addition. I would grow holly here if they would not grow so big. The miniature hollies do not do very well here. Most grown here are China Girl/Boy and Blue Prince/Princess. People turn them into balls to keep them small. Holly looks best natural.
I love holly, being biased towards natives I love the American holly best, but making the room for a big tree with spiny leaves isn’t the easiest in my yard either.
(If the native police aren’t looking I might admit to liking variegated English holly even more, but last I checked it wasn’t hardy here)