As I’m starting to see little clumps of snowdrops in people’s gardens on my daily walk, mainly the common single ones (Galanthus nivalis), I thought I’d share a gallery of some of the fancier ones.
My favourites, though I couldn’t say why, are any that have green markings on the tips of their outer petals.
Some people feel an affection for glum-looking snowdrops that appear to have two green eyes above a downturned mouth. Perhaps it’s a kick-back against the optimistic, first sign of spring image snowdrops generally have. They’re typically expensive, which is perhaps as well. Having a whole garden full of them is a scary thought.
If I’d have been naming Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus ‘Three Leaves’, I’d have been more interested in celebrating the very long, elegant, white petals. I have to confess I didn’t even look at the leaves.
Galanthus plicatus is also named because of the leaves, which look like they’ve been folded. The flowers of this particular cultivar are puffed out and have a crinkled texture.
Yellow snowdrops are often smaller, daintier plants. This one was half and half and perhaps as a consequence was vigorous.
Here’s a true yellow for comparison.
Sad-faced snowdrops aside, these sweet little bulbs never look better than when they are planted in drifts. I’ll have to do with admiring clusters this year, but the great thing about photography is I can always look back.
Susan Rushton 
Love the yellow snowdrops!
I always try to hunt them out.
I’ll have the crinkled ones, please! I love their texture and their shape. But what’s not to love about all of them? A very hopeful post, which I think we all need. Thank you!
Those have something of crinoline about them.
beautiful flowers
Thank you
I love the yellow ones too. But then again, I love them all.
I suppose we give the outliers extra credit.
A fine collection. I expect you know Hodsock Priory, but just in case you don’t: https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/nottinghamshire/item/hodsock-priory-snowdrops.html
I don’t know it, although I’ve heard the name.
I think it is considered the national collection. When we lived in Newark we often bought some
I didn’t know there were so many different snowdrops – I especially liked the yellow/white one which I’d never seen before. You captured some lovely images there, all I ever seem to see are a few clumps dotted in parks. My own garden is tiny so my snowdrops are bunched in a corner where they fight for space with the daffodils.
At least they have a head start on the daffodils, or so I imagine.
Just to say hello and also that I’m glad I’ve to come to visit your blog by suggestion of WP’s feed. I love getting inspiration from nature to sketch and use colours, and your blog brings in that part of the world I enjoy. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Welcome and thanks for your kind comment!
I didn’t know they were so pretty underneath. Sort of a shame we don’t get to see that part.
It would be quite hard on the back and knees to examine them all!
Beautiful.
Aren’t they just?
gorgeous collection – they are such wonderful flowers in close up and in drifts
It’s never easy to focus on them though. My camera is always happier to latch on to my fingerprints than a white petal.
White in macro is such a challenge