So normally my earliest of springtime posts build and build to a crescendo of oversharing of snowdrop photos and snowdrop stories… but not so much this year. We were locked in winter from December on through to the very last days of February, and it was just by good fortune or blessing that snowdrops were up and close enough to flowering to look presentable for sale at the Galanthus Gala on the 28th. But the garden was a different story, and far from presentable. March 1st had most of the snow melted and cleanup began immediately. Trimming and raking in a cold wind, trimming hellebores and unburying winter aconite in snow squalls. Tylenol and Motrin for winter-lazy knees and back. It all had to happen in just a few days because we went from tundra to short sleeve weather faster than ever. Things sprouted overnight and were in bloom by the afternoon. It was all too much of a rush.
One of the world’s favorite snowdrops, ‘S Arnott’ is sturdy and fragrant and pretty much perfect.
I was away on the next weekend, and in a way it was sad since the weather was nice enough to spend a whole day just poking around and sitting around and taking it all in, but I did make an excellent trade. There was a tour of several wonderful snowdrop+ gardens in the DC area and the plants were at a peak and the touring company was an A-list group of galanthophiles and the snowdrop-curious.
From a few scattered plantings, the winter aconite (Eranthis hiemalis) and snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are finally beginning to make a show along the street.
Back at home the weather continued to warm. Nine days after the Gala everything had come into bloom and it was the fastest season I can recall. That Tuesday was beautiful and I raced home for most of these pictures and to just have some time to sit around and watch the flowers sway in the breeze, listen to the bees, and just take in the sights and scents of springtime bloom returned.
Even in the back garden some of the snowdrop singletons have finally become patches, and Begonia House doesn’t even look as squalid as usual.
But then over the next two days it became warmer and warmer still. June weather. Snowdrops find June weather to be exhausting and a sunny, nearly 80F (26C) day put many over the edge even if it did make for a good strolling day. Except for the storms which followed. Punishing downpours and wind for most of the night, followed by cold. Snowdrops can handle a good deal of weather but this was pushing it.
I love the Irish snowdrop ‘Kildare’. Such a nice form with green lines tracing down the outers, he’s a real beauty but never sells well because he looks floppy and anemic in a pot. I’ve noticed one or two other favorites do that, perhaps they’re offended to think I’m abandoning them to the sales table…
Just over a week into snowdrop season and it felt like it was over. Cold weather returned, more grey skies and the garden had that drowned rat look to it… but let’s look at a bunch of favorites from this year before we talk about wet rodents and such.
Yeah in spite of not wanting to like him, ‘Trumps’ keeps putting on a better show each year. Nice markings on an interesting pagoda-shaped bloom and a good grower as well.
I’m fortunate to have a spot which ‘Rosemary Burnham’ does well in and glad to be able to show off the patch even though she’s a little faded from the sun. Last year she didn’t look as good, so this spring was a relief!
I was somewhat whiny and offended last year when I dug a few bulbs of ‘Bloomer’ for the Gala table and they didn’t sell. Maybe my price was more the reason since I possibly didn’t want to part with them because it’s also a favorite drop.
‘Mother Goose’ is one of the drops which I dreamed of growing for years before finally tracking down and fitting into the budget. I’m quite happy with the golden inners.
A snowdrop with more of an apricot inner, ‘Shorbuser Irrlicht’ has a glow which I did not think I’d like when I saw some of the first photos. I thought it looked a little muddy or faded, but in person? It’s delightful!!
Oh, it’s not all snowdrops. Here’s a double Eranthis hiemalis ‘Gothengurg’ which I like a lot. Not a sheet of color-showy, but cool regardless.
‘Midas’ has golden inners matched with bright gold on the outers. A fine drop even if the outers fade faster than I’d like… but when it’s good, it’s great!
The snowdrop ‘Cliff Curtis’ is another favorite from year to year. A subtle smudge of faint green with two darker dots inside are the kind of details snowdrop weirdos love to go on about.
Galanthus ‘Magnet’ in front, and ‘Not Magnet’ behind. I think they look the same but was informed the one is not the true ‘Magnet’, so of course I had to get another from somewhere else, and now I’m sure they will tell me both are wrong. Oh the weirdos at it again.
Tuesday, March 9th was likely the peak of the snowdrops, or at least the peak of me being able to enjoy them. Wednesday was a late night and then the weather went downhill thereafter. The following weekend I went pansy shopping with friends and only forced them on a brief snowdrop tour in the cold, downtrodden garden beforehand. They claimed it was still full of snowdrops but it all looked hungover from the heat and cold and storms and I was not having it. Sunday was a little warmer. I’ll post a few more photos, and I’m still of course pleased it’s snowdrop season, but don’t fear the avalanche of endless identical photos filling this blog with white and more white since it’s not happening this year.
Have an excellent week regardless, and don’t let my gloom dampen the joy which is yet to come!
sorta like suburbia 
Yeah, it’s been whiplash weather. Traveling to places with better weather seems the best option, especially if there are gardens to visit.
I hope you enjoy your travels this weekend! It looks like you might hit a decent window of warmth and dry skies even if it’s not the sunniest.
A pleasing collection, Frank. It may not be a perfect year, but still looks great to me.
Thanks Eliza. I really shouldn’t complain, it’s so nice to see things sprouting again.
The weather is always so important to gardeners, a nuisance at times and a blessing at others. Your snowdrops are looking very good!
Haha, I’ve been living the weather again as only a gardener does. Too many plants which are further ahead than the weather will allow and they’re in an out of the garage every cold spell, but I think we’re through the worst. Into the garden they go this weekend and a few freezes should be ok.
Thank you for sharing your snowdrops with us, such a lovely selection and so many yellow varieties! Our snowdrops are almost a memory for now, only 9 months to wait before it all starts again!
Pauline, I look forward to starting every season with the photos from your garden! Eventually it reaches here, but our spring is much shorter and we catch up to yours way too quickly. The wait begins 😉
Funnily enough we were at Sir Cedric Morris’s old garden, Benton End, this week to take some plants and see how the re-imagination is going. The gardener was interested in hearing that there is not just one ‘Magnet’ as, of course, ‘Benton Magnet’ came from there. There is also ‘Sibbertoft Magnet’, ‘Little Magnet’ and ‘Super Magnet’ off the top of my head – oh dear that proves I’m a snowdrop weirdo!
You are a weirdo in good company I think. Maybe there is a ‘Sibbertoft Magnet’ here as well, but only one and the weirdness is nothing like the friend in Virginia who makes a point of collecting any and all Magnets he can find. A true weirdo that one, since it’s hard enough to source even average snowdrops here in N America let alone wander off on a side-quest.
Who knew there were so many types of snowdrops.
Sometimes it’s better to not know these things! It would save me a lot of crawling around in the mud trying to figure out how they’re different 😉
Wow, the snowdrops are all lovely. Midas’s little golden drop is enchanting. I don’t know how you could pick a favorite tho. Poke around days, no agenda -just seeing what’s up in the garden are my favorite.
Tracy it’s so easy to pick a favorite, but five minutes later you’re onto another favorite! I’m hoping more poke-around days in the garden are just around the corner 😉
For someone who didn’t have a single snowdrop come up this year, these are all fabulous Frank, and I do actually envy you some of them! I may not be a galanthophile, but still appreciate seeing photos of other people’s. Hope your weather calms down and decides it is time for spring now!
I think the weather is starting to admit spring might be inevitable, but it’s really putting on a struggle this year! Today I walked past the car in the driveway and noticed the ice is still melting out of the wheelwells, even after the drive from work and the warmer daytime temps. That’s still from Wednesday when I had to chip my way into the car through an inch of ice!
Very nice. I’m a huge Snowdrop fan, too. It’s amazing that Snowdrops and other spring bloomers can form buds, and then survive blizzards and single-digit temperatures…and then recover to bloom with abandon after the snow melts. Thank goodness for the blanket of fresh snow during the most recent storms here in the Midwest! We went from 73F on March 9, to 4F on March 16, and back up to 74F today. And the Snowdrops and other spring lovelies are blooming with abandon!