This morning I went out to see if there was something to get me going. My eye was first drawn to yet another scattering of twiggy bits from the Oak growing just over the wall. We have several squirrels attempting to build drays and I think these are the ones which fell down or were brought down by the wind and heavy rain yesterday. They are however the perfect grey green to form a background for the snowdrops in this vase.
Next looking at the Pittosporum I thought a few pieces of that would form a good contrast. On Saturday Jim mentioned cutting his Pittosporum before the new growth broke out, so this is a job for me this week. Then I looked around to see which Snowdrops I would cut. I have a little clump which I can't see from the conservatory which has been in flower for a couple of weeks, and its label read Melanie Broughton. Since I could not see them when sitting in the conservatory, I decided to cut each bloom, and worked hard on trying to remember the name ready for writing this. Well, I have looked at other example of Melanie Broughton, and this is definitely not that one, as there are just a little marking. I felt a huge disappointment. Can snowdrops loose their markings or is it simply that the label got misplaced. I shall need to ponder this one and consult any sketches I made, if indeed I did any, when these were planted.
To bypass or maybe even erase this crest fallen feeling, I shall concentrate on the feeling I had when I was cutting the blooms, before I knew of the problem, and also remember the little robin who came to see what I was up to, and also his song. Here therefore besides the arrangement is the delightful studio pottery bowl with a robin on it by Laurence McGowan.
After Knit and Natter this morning, and lunch, I have consulted my planting notes for 2022 when I received a selection of lovely bulbs from my friend Brenda and the name of Galanthus Mrs Macnamara is spot on for position and the description. I am now a happy bunny!
The foliage does a beautiful job of highlighting your lovely snowdrops. Noelle. I'm glad you were able to sort out their proper name, although they'd be delightful even if they'd gone nameless.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kris, and they have the most wonderful scent too, which is one of the characteristics for Mrs Macnamara.
DeleteI am glad you got your snowdrow dilemma resolved, Noelle. I have a map AND labels AND conspicuous labels for when mine are about to flower. Mind you, this year I have three that I haven't found yet, presumably covered in ivy or something else on the woodland floor...I need to go and have another root around. They are probably only single bulbs so unless they flower finding them wil continue to be a struggle! Thank you for sharing your snowdrops in recent IAVOM posts - I shall wait for my common ones, which won't be for a few weeks yet
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful belt and braces approach Cathy. I am finding this year that the snowdrops in full sun perform so much better than those in the shade, and to think of the baking they got last summer, it is contrary to advice. Maybe that just goes for some cultivars. You of course need to keep your snowdrops for your visitors, particularly the special ones.
DeleteLovely snowdrops. The foliage accentuates them so well. Ame.lia.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am glad you found the right name for them Noelle. They are, however, quite lovely even without a name. And the description of how you felt while picking them is simply lovely. I haven't heard any birds singing recently… even our house sparrows are quiet. Too cold for them!
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