This is the time of the year when the first of our native bulbs begins to bloom. Can you guess what it is? Why it is none other than the Crocus (Galanthus nivalis) meaning “milk flower”. Always the first, whether there is snow on the ground or a winter’s frost, those spikes of grey-green leaves and pure white and lime green flowers herald the beginning of Spring.
Interesting fact: Did you know that Galanthus are best transplanted “in the green”? This means that, unlike other bulbs, they are happiest being transplanted when they have leaves and flowers. All you need to do is group them into clumps of around a dozen plants and spread these clumps around in the area where you want to see them year after year. Over time they will multiply and spread into becoming one giant drift of flowers. So why not get started now! You could have snowdrops in your meadow this spring and next spring they will be even better.
Snowdrops are not just exclusive to woodland although they look pretty amazing in such a setting, they also spread wherever their seeds fall, looking fabulous by the side of a stream, or in sunny stretches of open meadow.
There are other ways too of gaining a bit of colour in a wildflower meadow from January to April when everything is green, green and more green. Next week we’ll explore these!! Exciting eh?