I happened to read just a couple of days ago that today is Candlemas Day. Therefore as one of the several names for Snowdrops years before Linneaus settled on the name Galanthus was Candlemas bells, it seems so right to feature snowdrops today.
Here in the vase is a selection of some of the larger special snowdrops. The Galanthus nivalis are only just appearing and those would have been the ones picked to adorn churches.
Not being superstituous I haven't waited till now to pick snowdrops. Apparently before Candlemas Day it unlucky, but for this festival the snowdrop as symbol of purity and hope were picked to adorn Churches and hence not suprisingly can still be found in old churchyards and around old religious places such as abbeys. When we lived in Kenilworth our walks often took us on snowdrop hunts and the churchyard there never disappointed.The little brass snail is an old and the decorated pebbles are all dressed up as it were, picked up at a local art exhibition. As usual I am linking into Cathy's post of her blog: Rambling in the Garden.
I am looking forward to having enough snowdrops blooming to share some in a vase - and yet we have had several from you this season already! Seeing snowdrops in the wild still seems so special, as do swathes of wood anemones, wild garlic and all sorts of other wild flowers that we might also grow in our gardens. Thank you for sharing yours today
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Cathy. I have the mid season snowdrops starting to come on, with the nivalis not quite out in full. I agree that coming upon the wood anemones and early snowdrops in the wild is really lovely, but of course those are not for picking. We have some lovely snowdrops growing along the verges on the Mendips, and in a ew weeks time the rest like wood anemones, primroses etc will follow.
DeleteI always appreciate seeing your snowdrops. There's not a hope in the world that I could grow them in my climate, which isn't even hospitable when in comes to summer snowflakes (Leucojum aestivum).
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely that we have IAVOMers from different climatic zones, it makes for such and interesting meeting each Monday. I am so pleased you like the delicate snowdrops.
DeleteWhat an apt choice of bulb for Candlemas Day Noelle and it was a pleasure to dwell upon your vase.I recognise some of your 'drops though not all. I love the snail and the pebbles too. I was thinking of cutting some 'Imbolc' flowers for today's vase (as you probably know Imbolc was yesterday) but they're not quite out yet.
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