Yeeeaaaaaay - can you believe it - it's snowdrop time again! Introducing 'Faringdon Double' which is the earliest double snowdrop to flower. At first glance it's hard to tell it's a double flower and you really have to look underneath to be sure. I was hoping to get a better view of underneath those petticoats but am out out of practise flowering snowdrops and sadly did not have my assistant himself on hand to help. I will have another attempt soon.
'Faringdon Double' gets its name from the Oxfordshire village of Faringdon where it was discovered flowering in a churchyard. I'm not sure how long it is since I had my original bulb but it must be less than five years. For the last two years the flowers have opened this side of Christmas whilst in 2011 it was January before flowering commenced. So far we've had quite a mild autumn with only a few light frosts and some fairly mild daytime temperatures. I've found that 'Faringdon Double' increases well. As regular readers of this blog will know I grow my special snowdrops in pots which is probably not the best way to grow them over long periods of time. It suits me though as I can keep them close to the house and can enjoy seeing them and smelling them at close quarters. As they bulk up though I'm slowly planting surplus bulbs in the ground so that hopefully I can enjoy the best of both worlds in the future. You are unlikely to find this snowdrop for sale at your local garden centre but there are several specialist snowdrop sources where you can purchase bulbs including the excellent Avon Bulbs. At the start of the new year many of these companies will be selling snowdrops in the green. There is a school of thought that recommends buying dormant bulbs only but that's another story. Elsewhere other pots of snowdrops are showing tantalising flashes of white so these should be fully showing for January's GBBD.
Thanks as always to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens who hosts this meme, which gives us the chance to share, wonder and grow our wish lists throughout the year.
It really doesn't seem a year since you were last showing us your flowering snowdrops, the time has whizzed by. I've only got an odd snowdrop here and there in the garden, I really should do something about that.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Lea
What a beautiful photo of your snowdrop! How neat to have a flower with such an interesting history, too. My only snowdrops are planted outdoors and won't bloom until March or so. I keep waiting for them to multiply, as promised, but usually only one or two little brave blooms appear.
ReplyDeletePotted snowdrops. That seems like something I should try! Thanks for sharing yours for bloom day.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Snowdrop time starts here! It is a good idea growing them in pots. I find that in the garden malicious birds or squirrels delight in stealing the labels and muddling them up. I spend hours, book in hand, trying to sort them all out. Some are easy to identify but others are very confusing. Still, it keeps us out of mischief on cold winter days.
ReplyDeleteChloris
Ooh, I must go and check outside when it's light...
ReplyDelete... my ordinary Galanthus were in bloom before Christmas last year, I wonder how they're doing this year? Mind you, I think we've had milder weather thus far, so I suspect they're still tucked up under the blanket of leaves my neighbour's blower has thoughtfully given them ;)
A real beauty, Anna! Some are peeping out here but it will be a while yet. Did you cheat a little or are the pots left outside all the time?
ReplyDeletePretty....happy gbbd!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting and I do like your classy black background
ReplyDeleteWhay! Hurrah for the snowdrop! Recollecting when you posted your Faringdon Double last year and that this was your earliest I did in fact gently lift out the basket with my new FD in but only found a teeny bulb with a teeny shoot, but at least it is still alive! I must be patient....
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely flower. Here in upstate New York, in the United States, all we have outside is snow. Our outdoor snowdrops might be blooming in March. I love the green center on this one. I was almost disappointed that Avon Bulbs was out of stock! (although I doubt that an American could have ordered from them.) RamblinfromAM visiting from GBBD.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful - a lovely photo! Makes me hopeful that winter will be shorter this year!
ReplyDeleteOooh goody, I do enjoy reading your snowdrop posts, you will never convert me to your level of addiction but I do love your enthusiasm, and the black backdrops work so well too.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. You have me hooked. Starting them off in pots and then putting the excess in the garden sounds like a good plan. They are so much easier to admire if you have them in a pot.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's just the start of the snow drop season! Something to look forward to :)
ReplyDeleteWow that photo took me by surprise. Snowdrops already. It's a delightful sight and one which raises the spirits.
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