First Flowers of Spring!
For some time now, I’ve had a growing sense that everyone around the world is rejoicing in their many colorful spring blooms. Everyone, that is, except myself and other winter-weary gardeners in Chicago and further North. It’s a feeling akin to knowing that there is a really big party out there to which you were not invited.
Well, my invitation has finally arrived. Most of the snow melted over the weekend during the mild, rainy weather. And under the snow, it turns out, there were snowdrops (Galanthus)!
A few had started to come up in January, and were battered a bit by subsequent deep freezes. But they are welcome even so!
The weather is supposed to dip back down below freezing in the middle of the week, but I can bare that now. The snowdrops have arrived, first flowers of spring in my garden! Hurrah!
gardeninacity 
Congrats! That is soooo exciting!! And what beautiful flowers they are!
They are understated, but like food for the starving.
The beginning of a new growing season! Yea! Welcome to the party!
Thanks! Where’s the bar?
Lovely! Once they are up I feel spring is only just around the corner!
They do give you exactly that feeling.
I can understand your excitement, they are such lovely flowers. Over here in the UK our flowers that came up in Jan, Feb and March have now been blasted by snow and icy winds from Russia, something to be said for staying snug under a duvet of snow!!
Ugh, we may get the same thing this week, I fervently hope not.
Hurrah, hope the others follow soon, and your temperatures don’t plummet again for long.
I hope so too, next three days the low is supposed to be 25 F, which is about -4 C.
No crocus :-)? I never thought them as so snow-hardy because they look so dainty. They got covered by a foot of snow. The snow melted and voila! they were still standing looking fresh. The snowdrops look great. I need to buy some of those. Can’t wait to see your beautiful flowers again once the winter is gone. How is the thrush doing?
The thrush is still hanging around. I haven’t seen any of the crocus emerging yet.
Some hyacinth have tried to bloom in my yard but the rabbits keep eating them. Grrr!
Rascally rabbits! There are way too many of them around lately!
Hopefully, the tide has turned!
It’s supposed to be inevitable, isn’t it?
Love it! Here in NH, I haven’t been invited to the party yet but I’m hopeful.
I’ll hold a space for you.
I still have piles of snow here in Connecticut and spring is a way off, although my snowdrops are in a sunny snow-free area and making me happy. I too feel uninvited to a party, seeing all the posts from gardeners enjoying spring, when it is just gray and brown outside and the ground is too frozen to dig. sigh.
Thank goodness for your snowdrops, then! I think southern NE is usually milder than where we are.
I felt exactly the same when I saw some early crocus and a few snowdrops…most of the snow melted but few blooms as the garden is flooded and cold and the snow is about to return..somehow the plants know.
They must listen to the weather reports.
I love snowdrops! I was first introduced to them in England, where they blanketed the ground at Earl Grey’s house in Northumberland, Howick Hall, and I happened to be there when the snowdrop festival was going on. That fall, I planted snowdrops around the birdbath at our house in New Jersey and every year I am delighted to see them! They really make the tail end of winter that much more bearable. http://www.howickhallgardens.org/snowdropwalks.php
I followed the link, Howick Hall sounds amazing.
It really is. A nice walk through the grounds follow by a pot of Earl Grey tea, scone, jam and clotted cream is such a rewarding outing!
It is amazing that plants still go ahead and grow under a blanket of snow! The first blooms are always worth celebrating! I hope your winter doesn’t last too much longer.
Thank you! I agree about the plants that stay green under the snow. I’m amazed they can do that.
Nice! Now I’m an outsider. Still more than a food of snow on my garden and more snow is falling today. But you know, it’s funny, that little taste of spring with the rain was enough to encourage me that spring is happening–I just can’t see it. Meanwhile, the Hellebores, Snowdrops, and Crocuses are waiting for me under their white blanket. I’m sure no one will be interested to see them on my blog when they arrive (so passe), but I’ll be thrilled. Thanks for the signs of spring! If they’re making an appearance in your garden, they’ll soon be here, too! Meanwhile, magical, twirling, huge snowflakes are dancing outside my window.
Keep hope alive! A foot of snow, whew. No offence, but that makes me glad I moved back from Wisconsin.
Let the season begin… oops… we still have snow and a wait here too.
I wish you warm temps and a general melting.
I can really feel your joy through this post and the lovely photos. Thank you! This was my first year of having snowdrops. I couldn’t see how small, white flowers would be so moving in the winter. I figured they’d just get lost in the snow and the dark. Now I can’t imagine a late winter without them. They tell you your garden is still alive.
They do have a big impact for such small, demure flowers.
Any flower is welcome at this time of year! I’m glad you’re getting a taste of spring like the rest of us.
I totally understand your feelings of spring fever. And now I wish I had some snowdrops…they are on my list.
Jen
I’m so jealous. I live farther out and all I have are puddles because the ground is still frozen. Your snowdrops are lovely!!!!
How nice to see your snowdrops! We’ve been having mild weather in Maine, too. (The snow has now all melted off the roof.) Today, I went out to take a look at areas of the garden that are out from under snow cover; I didn’t see anything coming up yet, though.
So glad for you! It has snowed most days this week, but the sun has also popped out for a few hours here and there. That is just enough to get the crocuses blooming, and then they shut again for the snowy nights.
I think that 200 tommies is a great start btw! I am sure that whoever planted our crocuses decades ago could not have planted that many to start. I hope yours find a happy home as well 🙂