The Snowdrops are blooming
Last year the Snowdrops in our garden did not come in to full bloom until the first week of March. What a difference a year makes, the mild Winter with no sign of snow in the city has the snowdrops blooming in February 16th.
These ones are in the raised border in the front garden amongst the naked stems of the Roses. There are about nine clumps of them, it is the common form of Nivalis, I look forward to seeing them every year coming into bloom much the same time as the Iris Reticulata.
I am no expert on Snowdrops, I just know you can depend on them to lighten up your garden every Winter without fail. These ones planted 26 years ago have not received one iota of attention, in fact this is going to be the first year in which I will be dividing them. There are so many varieties of Snowdrops, Galanthus to give them their proper title. No doubt you are well aware that you should plant them in the green, you know, buy little pot grown ones in Winter or early Spring, and there you go instant effect. However I have heard on a couple of occasions recently that planting the dry bulbs has been found to be quite acceptable, not so very sure about this though. Don’t you at times just wonder how they manage to survive the very severe frost, how very often do we find ourselves with a mild spell in Winter, the Snowdrops open and a couple of days later the temperature drops to minus 10c. Well fear not I am informed that the petals have their own built in antifreeze which gives the required protection. Is this really the case? as I say I am no expert, but I know a lady who is. Well she is not on this side of the Atlantic, but all which she knows is more than likely to comply with the conditions here in the UK —Link–Carolyn
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I planted dozens of the Iris Reticulata in the Autumn. The ones in the large planter, just under the window at the front of the house opened fully in mid February. So far the ones which were planted in the borders of the back garden have been sparse to say the least. We haven’t had terribly low temperatures and I find myself wondering if there is something about our soil which is causing this.
Not sure which variety it is.
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The Sarcococca Humilis on the 16th of February. The flowers are tiny and scented, for those receptive enough to notice.
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Sunday 19th of February, well well, the first snowfall of the year. Little more than a dusting, however I had to get out there and get a few shots.
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Following day, Monday 2oth February. Its all gone, quite happy about that really.
© 2012, Alistair. All rights reserved.
Alistair, You are so nice to link to my blog post on snowdrops and to my snowdrop catalogue. I love seeing your gardens with a dusting of snow, very beautiful. I planted Iris reticulata for the first time this year, and it is also blooming right now with the G. nivalis. Maybe our climates are more alike than we think. Carolyn
Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens recently posted..A Wonder of Nature
You are welcome Carolyn. Just about 60f here today, we do get many days in Summer when it is no warmer than this.
Alistair, I loved your garden in white…mine is white today. My snowdrops are also coming up and braving the constant snow. I only plant snowdrop bulbs and they do great for me with our harsh winters. The iris reticulata also are only planted in the ground and mine naturalize. I have clay soil and amended clay soil so they seem to like it and the cold. They are pushing through but not showing any flower buds yet. I have a feeling they may by next weekend.
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Purple Passion Natives
Donna, I am suspecting that the Iris are not fond of our acidic soil.
They say that may not be a problem but that they require fertile well draining soil…I know mine did not like the clay soil at first but once I amended they seemed fine…I hope it is not the acidic soil since I am sure your soil is fertile given all your beautiful flowers.
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Purple Passion Natives
Donna, Our soil although on the acidic side is fertile and well draining. There are some plants which grow well enough in Aberdeen but just wont take in our garden. As for reticulata, I am not so very convinced that it is the acidic soil, but I am giving up on them.
Hi,
I plant snowdrops as bulbs and have no problems – as you can see from my blog. The only ones I’ve bought in the green were the doubles I got a couple of weeks ago. I buy a bag of 100 and plant in groups of around 5-10 and the percentage coming up to bloom is high.
Liz recently posted..Flower Friday!
That does it for me Liz.
I read in a ‘posh’ gardening mag the other day that ‘they’ (these posh experts) now think moving snowdrops when they’re in their dormant stage (not in the green) is the way to go, apparently less stressful. You start to question just who is the expert, when the expert keeps changing their mind! I think it depends which way the wind is blowing & what star sign the snowdrop is…lol.
Your garden looks luverleee…come snow or sun x
It does make you wonder Jane. Just waiting for them to tell me that lovely fatty food is good for us, no I don’t eat deep fried mars bars.
Alistair,
How lush everything looks even under the think sheet of snow. We have had no snow to speak of in NYC this year and all of the early spring bulbs have come and gone. It makes me wonder if we will have a dreaded April blizzard.
Cheers,
Michael
Michael recently posted..Why Don’t You… Grow Citrus?
Michael, We also have had April blizzards, flash in the pan though.
Hi Alistair, I would imagine that snowfall must seem like a bit of a novelty there. It must be nice to get well into February before you experience any of the white stuff! Here, it is such a regular occurrence that we tend to take it more for granted.
You have a nice little clump of snowdrops there! I am a fan of Carolyn’s blog as well and inspired by her enthusiastic posts, I expanded my small snowdrop collection last fall. I am looking forward to seeing them come into bloom (hopefully, in a month’s time).
I also have become a recent fan of Iris Reticulata. They look so pretty planted in clusters.
Jennifer@threedogsinagarden recently posted..Growing Old
Hi Jennifer, we do normally get snow in January, very lucky this year.
Very lovely Alistair… your snow load is very much the same as ours just now, and yet there are large amounts south of us and another storm headed north of us tomorrow… since it’s relatively warm this winter, I’m not missing the snow at all! Sarah just made me sit down and write up a list of things to be done in the garden… most are fairly major projects. We came up with 52 so far and I got tired thinking about all the work so took a nap! Wonder how this will all turn out! Take care and a warm hello to your wife… Larry
larry recently posted..Pining for Spring #2
Larry, that is quite some list of gardening jobs, like one for each week of the year.No wonder you are tired, let Sarah know men are no good at multi tasking.
I bought my snowdrops so long ago, that they were only available as dry bulbs in those days. Not quite medieval times, but it was a long, long time ago. Must admit, I always move or divide them in the green though, and they always romp away in their new homes.
Love your iris reticulata. They don’t naturalise in my garden, so I haven’t got any this year.
Crystal recently posted..Up With The Lark
I remember the simplicity of those days Crystal.
What a difference a day makes! Loved your dusting of snow, but if you hadn’t said those next pictures were the very next day, I wouldn’t have ever guess that! Love your irises. I had some in a bed that did very well. Then I moved everything. I planted more in a different bed. Those never returned. The soil was the same – sometimes I think they just have a mind of their own!
Holleygarden recently posted..Pretty in Pink
These things are sent to try us Holley. Its a small price for us to pay for the pleasure gardening gives us.
I appreciate the views of your garden; both with and without snow it is very lovely! I have heard that some plants produce an antifreeze to protect against frost. I think that is the coolest thing and demonstrates how wonderful this great earth is, down to the littlest details!
debsgarden recently posted..I Love Yew
Yes Deb, it is often the simplest of things that make us wonder.
Alistair, i wonder I’ve been so smitten the first time i saw snowdrops high up in the mountains of Turkey! And that goes with pansies and wisteria too. It’s amazing as tulips didn’t do that to me. I told myself this maybe is a clear indication of my past life in a temperate clime, and the snowdrop has been so embedded in the psyche! Anyway…I saw some blue iris at the plant exhibit commercial booths yesterday, and noticed that the foliage are so thick and somehow when the flowers are gone, they don’t look nice anymore! But I am glad it grows here too in the hot tropics.
Andrea recently posted..Timeless Remnants of Time
Andrea, Iris have such a short flowering period many of us don’t give them the garden space which perhaps they deserve. No more of the Reticulata for me though.
Alistair – I just realised what “in the green” means. It might explain why the cut-price snowdrop bulbs that I got at the diy store haven’t bloomed. I love your clump.
The topiaries are really highlighted by a dusting of snow. I think that lady statue might need a scarf or something. Good to see the carex again – it’s growing on me!
b-a-g recently posted..Foxgloves (25 FEB 2012)
Yes bag, it was cruel of me to leave her outdoors all Winter.
I like seeing the snow covered garden. The snowdrops seem so fitting and pretty in either kind of weather.
Donna recently posted..Month in Tens – Garden Whites
Hi Alistair
Your garden looks so pretty with that dusty of snow – it really shows how good a winter form your garden has too – unlike mine that is more herbaceous and flat in the backgarden.
I’m sure you mentioned last year aswell about reticulata? Was it not me that encouraged you to plant them in the ground? It took my bulbs a few years to settle and now there are nice little clumps of reticulata – they did look sparse for the first few years though.
I’ve not had much success with dry snowdrop bulbs – tried once and never tried again. My friend is removing lots of her snowdrop bulbs due to renovation work on their driveway so tommorrow I’m heading there with a big plastic bag ……….or 2 or 3! as her snowdrops have just finished flowering – while I’m 4 miles up the road and mine are only starting.
Rosie@leavesnbloom recently posted..Snowdrops along the Almond
Rosie I think I was banging on about Reticulata last year, and yes I think you did talk about planting in the ground. I have actually tried them a number of times, totally finished with them now. Brilliant, make good use of the Snowdrops.
Nice to see your snowdrops Alistair, a fine selection you have and they’re looking very good! But the Iris has to be my favourite with their vivid colours and patterns on the petals
Mark and Gaz recently posted..I See White
M & G yes the Reticulata are vivid, given up on them though
So you had a little snow too! I can see your garden is waking up from winter despite the snow though.
alberto recently posted..The Silence of the Grasses
Yes Alberto, springing in to life
dear Alastair, love those iris, they are a very delicate looking. And the snowdrops are divine. My non scientific theory about why the snowdrops hang their petals down is that so you see the green more and they don’t get stepped on in the snow.( But then, what do I know about snow? Nothing really) cheers, cm
catmint recently posted..a garden tail
CM, Non scientific does it for me.
What beautiful views of your garden, Alistair! So glad that you had a dusting of snow to set off all of that wonderful structure for your photos.
I believe that your iris is reticulata ‘Gordon’ or something very like it. I ordered a few of them to go with my Crocus ‘Goldilocks’, the yellow stripe calling to the crocus, but they sent me ‘Clairette’ instead. oh well.
Hope spring advances steadily for you,
Julie
Wife, Mother, Gardener recently posted..Crocus tommasinianus… in February! oh my
Yes Carolyn, Gordon it is. I recalled that it had the name of a man, however I thought it was Richard, no wonder I couldn’t trace it, thank you.
Happy to have helped!
Wife, Mother, Gardener recently posted..Crocus tommasinianus… in February! oh my
Your snowdrops and iris look so delicate yet full of life. Lovely. I love your winter garden – great structure and looks lush and interesting.
Thanks for the visit spurge, our garden at one time was so very filled with perennials there wasn’t much structure in Winter.
My snowdrops are starting to go over now, but that’s fine as they’ve been replaced by my daffs, perfect for St.David’s Day. We didn’t have much snow either, about the same amount as you and ours went very quickly. I planted some of those small Iris in my garden and they haven’t come to much this year either.
sweetpealou recently posted..The Green, Green Grass
That’s our early Daffs starting to open now wellywoman.
My garden is finally free from snow (except a few shady corners) and snowdrops are everywhere. They spread naturally because I leave them to wither naturally. Helleborus is also in bloom but, my Iris reticulata still sleeps.
Vesna recently posted..Counting the Damages
Vesna, you will be pleased to be rid of the snow.
Your snowdrops are lovely, Alistair…a real showstopper in your garden. It is 72 degrees F here today, and I think spring has sprung…early. The white of your blooms is so striking against the landscape. Despite your problems with the Reticulata, the colors are so beautiful.
The Sage Butterfly recently posted..My Garden Notebook – March 2012
SB, 72 is just perfect, that is the temp we look for in Summer and doesn’t get there often enough.
Snow and snowdrops here too. I like the antifreeze in the petals part. Do you think I could put them in the car radiator?
linniew recently posted..Unnatural selection
No Linnie, i was first to think of it.
Such pretty early-blooming flowers! None of my Dutch Irises that I planted last fall have bloomed yet – I am eagerly awaiting some blooms. Your yard is absolutely lovely! The bench looks like such a great spot to relax and enjoy it.
Indie recently posted..On Visiting Camellia Forest Nursery
Indie, yes that spot in the garden is indeed my favourite.