The First Snowdrops, Heralds of Spring
Hooray! The first flowers of the year, which is to say the first Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are blooming in our garden!
Not all the Snowdrops are blooming, just a few clumps in favored spots along the Back Porch Border. There’s a much bigger patch of Snowdrops around the old Maple stump in the East Fence Border – but that area gets less sun. Around there the shoots have come up, but there are hardly any flowers.
Incidentally, Judy was sick today so I took these Snowdrop pictures.
I’ve made no secret of my preference for colorful Crocuses over Snowdrops. Still, the Snowdrops deserve our respect and affection for being the first to bloom.
This is not the earliest our Snowdrops have been in bloom. In 2017 they were blooming by February 15. The year before they bloomed the last week of February, while in 2015 they bloomed late, almost in the middle of March.
They look delicate, but they push through the frozen ground to bring us the first flowers of spring. Other flowers are still slumbering or at best lying in bed and rubbing their eyes. Virtuous early risers, the Snowdrops bring us the first tidings of spring.
gardeninacity 
Lovely, lovely snowdrops. Hope Judy feels better soon.
She felt pretty much better by Tuesday morning.
Oh, good! Miserable being sick.
What? People have been writing about these for weeks. I am waiting for the season to end! I think I am the only one who does not grow them. I have only leucojum, and I did not even plant them.
I guess we’re behind the times around here.
Well, yes, I know it is cold there.
They’re such a pretty plant, and I’m almost sure I’ve never seen them in person. Perhaps I did when I was living farther north, but at that time, I paid almost no attention to plants, and wouldn’t have noticed them.
I have been meaning to ask about the flowers in your header. I’m not sure what those are, but they’re delightful.
I hope Judy’s feeling better, and doesn’t have that dastardly flu that’s been going around.
Those are Species Tulips, specifically Tulipa dasystemon. I love Species Tulips, much more perennial and easier to grow than the hybrids.
Good to see your snowdrops! Mine have survived being covered by 7 inches of snow for a few days, I’m amazed they are still standing up and looking good.
Get better soon Judy!
Snowdrops look dainty, but they’re tough.
The first signs of spring bring us such pleasure; and it is the humble snowdrop that often brings that. My few snowdrops started flowering in December so I could hardly see them as a harbinger of spring but it does show me that the circle of the year is still turning. I hope you’re feeling better Judy.
She was feeling better on Tuesday morning, in time to fly out of town for business.
I love snowdrops…such a sign of Spring, and in our garden…. They are quite neglected for the rest of the year!
They don’t really demand much attention.
Hope your photographer in residence is feeling better, but you did a fine job here. 🙂 The snowdrops have been blooming down here in SC for a couple of weeks. They are lovely.
She was feeling better by Tuesday.
Mine are just beginning to show. I am sure the coming storm will put a stop to that for now.
The storm around here wasn’t too bad. We got less than an inch of snow. By the way, I think my comments on your blog are ending up in the spam folder.
I haven’t see any here yet, and I haven’t seen any reticulated iris either. They’re usually the first bulb to flower here.
I keep meaning to plant some of those.
Yay, Snowdrops! Mine are emerged and budding, but not blooming yet. And tonight they will have a nice little blanket of snow. The voles got into mine, so I won’t have as many blooms this year. On a brighter note: the Daffodils are emerged and making progress every day. Cheers!
Yes, I watch the Daffodils greedily for signs of progress.
I love snowdrops – there’s just something so perfect about those pristine, smooth white ovals topping the fresh green foliage/stems. I do enjoy white flowers though…now, don’t go shaking your head! 😉
Good description of the Snowdrops.
Well you know where I stand on the snowdrop-crocus debate.
Great to see! Maybe someday when the snow melts I’ll be able to see something similar here as well. Not to judge, but you’re actually showing two different snowdrops, the first is G. elwesii and the second G. nivalis…. based on the differences in the leaf. Of course having two types makes you a collector now 😉
Hope Judy is back to full health again!
Wait, which is the one that is G. elwesii? The one with the shiny leaves?
I don’t know if the leaves of elwesii are shiny, just wider and they have that little hood at the tip, not just rounded off.
Wow, congratulations! They are lovely!!
Thanks.
Mine came up three weeks ago (central Indiana) and are now finishing up. I love spying them every year.
Hope Judy feels better soon.
Thanks, she is better now. Went off to California for her job on Tuesday.
Happy Day! That first flower does make the heart go pitty patter.
Exactly!
I will have to plant some…Crocus are planted in the front lawn, no sign yet…thanks for showing spring is coming someday.
They are nice to have as they flower so early.
I agree. Snowdrops are special because they come first, but crocuses are more reassuring.
And so much more cheerful!
That’s a lovely clump of them, there Jason. It’s a sign of spring and also a sign that it’s about to start getting very busy for the garden and gardener.
Except spring has been kept rather on hold this month.