Snowdrops

Photograph

Snowdrops come to life when the snow is on the ground in the northern hemisphere during the months of January and February. The dainty bell-shapes of their white flowers with green markings and segments, nestle amongst the green upright narrow leaves. They are delicate and relatively tiny in size, growing to about 25 cm in height, with a flower diameter of 1.5 cm. Each bulb produces a single-stem flower, topped by a cap. Their Latin name is Galanthus nivalis, which means milk snow-like flower.

The small bulbs are usually planted either in autumn, or in-the-green (with their leaves growing) after they have flowered in February. Snowdrops are low-growing perennials that multiply in the ground if left undisturbed. The bulbs clumps spread and benefit from being lifted and thinned when dense. The bulbs should be planted at a depth of at least 3 - 4 cm and in groups at a distance of 2 - 3 cm to each other.

Snowdrops thrive in a woodland environment, happy in the light shade of the trees, in grass and moss. The snowdrops provide groundcover under deciduous shrubs, at the front of the border. Over time they become naturalised. Snowdrops are also popular in private gardens and also do well in pots. The bulbs thrive in well-drained soil, which may be supplemented with added sand and grit.

Grey squirrels can be a pest, as they frequently dig-up and eat the bulbs.

There are many varieties, most popular are white and green flowers, although there are yellow varieties and variants.

The common bulb varieties may be easily found at garden centres and shops, and purchased at reasonable cost, whilst the rarer cultivar varieties with distinguished markings, on the inner three petals, can cost hundreds of pounds or more, for a single bulb, from specialists.

The Beautiful Snowdrop Poem

The beautiful snowdrop

Like snow on the mountain top,

Milky-white and green flower

Glistening with raindrops from a shower.

Grows upright and tall

Despite being very small,

Flowers in early spring

And appreciated throughout the wood whilst walking.

Grouped in clumps of white carpet

Row upon row looking their smartest,

Beaming brightly in light shade

Under the oak trees of the glade.

For those who behold

Where snowdrops have gained a foothold,

Reveals much joy to the eye and senses

Are much admired from the forest’s benches.

Arrayed like a bell with its face down

Capped on top with a crown,

The snowdrop is pure and clean

And is supremely worthy to be seen.

Snowdrop Colours

Links

Other Knowledge Series

Snowdrops Flowers

Snowdrop Poem

Information

My Lap Shop Publishers

Keywords: Snowdrops, snow northern hemisphere, January, February, bell-shapes, white, flowers, green, markings, segments, nestle, green, upright, narrow, leaves, tiny, size, growing, bulb single-stem flower, topped, cap, Galanthus nivalis, milk snow-like flower, autumn, or in-the-green, flowered, low-growing, perennials, multiply, undisturbed, clumps, spread, lifted thinned, dense, planted, depth, groups, distance, Woodland, environment, light-shade, trees, grass. Moss, groundcover, deciduous, shrubs, border, naturalised, Snowdrop, gardens pots bulbs, well-drained, soil, sand and grit, grey squirrels, pest, dig-up, eat bulbs, varieties, popular, white and green, flowers, although yellow varieties, variants, bulb varieties, garden, centres, shops, rarer, cultivar, varieties, distinguished, markings, inner, three, petals, single, bulb, specialists, poem, prose,

#Snowdrops

Page URL: https://www.mylapshop.com/snowdrops.htm