Snowdrops

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

I am told that a flowering snowdrop is a sign of Winter drawing to an end and the beginnings of Spring. Since this is my first winter I had no idea about snowdrops, or how cold snow was, or how to tell Spring was on its way, but I love how we can look at nature and be told of what is to come by what it is showing us. I won't forget about snowdrops now, even though I took this picture in early January which seems a little bit early to signify the onset of Spring. In Kenya we have rain lilies that spring up after a good down pour of rain. We usually assume it means there is more rain to come and are glad when we see them following dry spells.

Snowdrops are herbaceous plants which means their stems, leaves and flowers die down at the end of their growing period and their bulbs remain alive under ground. For snowdrops this is over the winter months. Usually, snowdrops increase in number through bulb division as there are not too many insects around during the cold months but can be insect pollinated if visited by any.

The flowers are easily mistaken to be completely white as they hang face-down, and are rarely overturned. If you are curious enough, turn one over and you will see dashes of green on the petals as well as yellow anthers enclosed in the center.

These flowers are beautiful and apparently have a honey-like scent in the warmer days - this I am yet to experience! They feel quite tough and rubbery - this enables the plant to push through the cold and sometimes frozen ground so it can flower once more.