Early spring in Virginia (USA) arrives with the blooming of snow drops (Galanthus nivalis) and winter jasmine (Jasminium nudiflorum).
I've watched the nude green stems of winter jasmine (Jasminium nudiflorum) for several weeks now waiting for what I expected as an explosion of yellow blossoms. I've seen no explosion, but each day the arching stems show a few more blossoms. They are still, for me a snowbird from New England, an exciting harbinger of spring. I bring home a few blossoms to float in a glass saucer - distilled sunshine!
Winter jasmine is so plentifully planted on soil banks in my residential community, that I don't need to even think about planting even one near my little cottage. Now the snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are a different story! A garden landscape can never have too many snowdrops!
I saw my first large patch of snow drops driving home from church yesterday (Sunday, February 3rd). They were nestled next to the road under some pine trees and fully emerged. This was the sort of irregular spontaneous-looking patch that probably arose over the years from a chance seedling or two. It was a temptation to throw on the brakes so I could run back and delight in them at eye-level.
Now that I know approximately when snowdrops bloom in my corner of VA, I can plant some of these little beauties where I can appreciate them the most from inside! In the U.K. there are many cultivars (cultivated varieties) of snowdrop plants that are sold "green" in the spring. Planting this way, really transplanting, supposedly ensures healthy and robust patches. Unfortunately, most of us here in the USA order dry bulbs from catalogs to plant in the autumn. There are also fewer cultivar choices for us.
For more about early-spring bulbs check out:
©Text by Georgene A. Bramlage. 2008. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
