Snowdrops Bring Spring (Or Vice Versa) - Garden Plants and Gardening Forum

An Iowa Garden · 03-14-2008, 04:54 PM

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With much creaking and groaning, the seasonal page is turning here in Iowa to spring. Even though a thick blanket of snow still covers most of our garden, the snowdrops, just can't contain themselves any longer, and are blooming anyplace the sun has released them from this icy grip. They've been out of the snowbank and into the light for such a short period of time that their foliage is still yellowish. Galanthus elwesii, the greater or Levantine snowdrop from the western mountains of Turkey always blooms first here, as it should, but the double snowdrop Galanthus nivalis flore pleno, blooms hard on its heels, which doesn't seem right, since the regular single form of Galanthus nivalis blooms almost a month later. I have flore pleno planted in several locations, so I know it's not just some fluke due to a favorable spot. I guess I'm puzzled, but not complaining.
Galanthus elwesii is shown open and closed, with flore pleno shown at bottom.

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northsealady · 03-15-2008, 01:57 AM

Perhaps Gloabal Warming has more to do with the seasons than anyone can imagine.

I have been a veggie gardener for the last 13 years and the seasons seem to have gone from planting in May to now being able to plant in March/April however the end of the season sometimes can be September.

We don't get harsh winters anymore in fact 2 years ago at Christmas it was so mild we sat outside - 20 years ago we had 6 foot of snow - explain that one

As gardeners we must change with the climate - and new varieties will be grown in places never grown before - i think this is fantastic as we in England will get the chance to grow species from the whole world.

Exciting Yes?

03-14-2008, 04:54 PM	#1
An Iowa Garden Grounds Keeper Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 251	Snowdrops Bring Spring (Or Vice Versa) This content is syndicated via RSS from the blog: Iowa Garden With much creaking and groaning, the seasonal page is turning here in Iowa to spring. Even though a thick blanket of snow still covers most of our garden, the snowdrops, just can't contain themselves any longer, and are blooming anyplace the sun has released them from this icy grip. They've been out of the snowbank and into the light for such a short period of time that their foliage is still yellowish. Galanthus elwesii, the greater or Levantine snowdrop from the western mountains of Turkey always blooms first here, as it should, but the double snowdrop Galanthus nivalis flore pleno, blooms hard on its heels, which doesn't seem right, since the regular single form of Galanthus nivalis blooms almost a month later. I have flore pleno planted in several locations, so I know it's not just some fluke due to a favorable spot. I guess I'm puzzled, but not complaining. Galanthus elwesii is shown open and closed, with flore pleno shown at bottom. Read More at Iowa Garden...

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03-15-2008, 01:57 AM	#2
northsealady Green Gardener Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3	Perhaps Gloabal Warming has more to do with the seasons than anyone can imagine. I have been a veggie gardener for the last 13 years and the seasons seem to have gone from planting in May to now being able to plant in March/April however the end of the season sometimes can be September. We don't get harsh winters anymore in fact 2 years ago at Christmas it was so mild we sat outside - 20 years ago we had 6 foot of snow - explain that one As gardeners we must change with the climate - and new varieties will be grown in places never grown before - i think this is fantastic as we in England will get the chance to grow species from the whole world. Exciting Yes?