It has been a wonderful snowdrop year. Why? Perhaps last year’s hot summer baked the dormant bulbs as is normal in their natural habitats in Greece, Turkey and eastern Europe. Rain came in abundance in the autumn when they would have been putting down roots. So the conditions have been perfect and they have flourished. Most have grown and flowered spectacularly and I would mention particularly Three Ships, Longstowe, Diggory and Copton Trym. The last was given to me by Tim Ingram in whose garden it appeared. All now make large handsome groups.
Now in the first week of March snowdrops are still in flower. E.A. Bowles, named after the great plantsman, with enormous glistening flowers is at its best. Copton Trym is spreading well in the shade and holds its flowers confidently. Bright yellow Spindlestone Surprise stands out among the crocuses. Augustus, my favourite for its glossy dark leaves and plentiful neat booms is at its best. Straffan is another late flowerer, reputed to have been brought back to Ireland by soldiers after the Crimean war and a beautiful snowdrop. So there is still plenty to tempt me into the garden in spite of the cold.
We have had snowdrops flowering from early December until now and they have been such a delight in the gloomy winter months. Now they are gradually giving way to more colourful plants as spring approaches – crocuses, hellebores and flowering cherries but I am so very grateful for their cheerful company over the last three months of short days, east winds, wet ground and chill air. Some people are scornful of galanthophiles’ passion for the little white and green flowers but for me they keep my spirits up at the lowest time of the year and we love to share them and spread the delight and optimism they bring.
