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Here are two double snowdrops blooming today: double doubles, I guess you'd say. For reasons that I can understand, double snowdrops get mixed reviews by fanatical snowdrop lovers (galanthophiles). The main knock on the doubles is that they are not graceful, like the single snowdrops. However, to me it depends on how you look at them; looking from above, or maybe even from the side, flore pleno does look a little... boxy. Actually from above they sort of look like little lobster claws to me; indeed not exactly graceful. Now when you get down and look at them from below (no easy task with a plant all of four inches tall) they give quite a different impression, and are very pretty; kind of like wee hoop skirts with petticoats with upside down heart markings along the hemline... quite sweet. I've taken to planting them on little hillocks in the garden to facilitate being able to see under them better, but even so when I'm seen walking around with muddy knees in early spring it's a pretty good bet I've been out looking at the snowies. I saw a picture of a Brit galanthophile out in his garden who walks about with a mirror which he sets down below each snowdrop so he can see it better... guess he doesn't like getting his pants muddy. The other snow drop fanciers who read his post about the mirror, oohed over how clever he was. Being or being described as "clever" seems to be a uniquely British trait, as in "He's such a clever boy!" Here in the States, I know I've never heard anybody call me clever... even though I feel like over the years I've given them plenty of opportunities to do so. Now maybe they were thinking it, but just didn't want to seem overly flattering. That could be.
03-17-2008, 06:52 PM
