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| Spring flowering snowdrops. |
Yesterday, I found out there are autumn-flowering snowdrops.
Autumn-flowering. As in blooming in October.
And now I want some. I never knew they existed until yesterday and now there is a hole in my garden without them.
I believe the botanical name is Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp reginae-olgae.
Every source I’ve checked so far is sold out, but that’s okay because it is probably too late this season to plant them here, anyway.
I will patiently wait until the supplies and catalogs are updated in the spring and then order some next year to plant. Then I will have some snowdrops blooming in my garden in the fall of ’17. Won’t that confuse people?
I can hardly wait, but wait I must. You can’t hurry up flowers. Your only choice is to wait for them or go on without them. I’d rather wait.
How, you ask, did I find out about this hole in my garden that can only be filled by planting autumn-flowering crocuses?
I found out about this hole in my garden because I have various Google alerts set up for key words like “gardener” and “garden” and one popped up yesterday about Margaret Owen, a galanthophile (expert on snowdrops) who recently passed away in Great Britain. This particular alert caught my attention because I was looking for some pictures of gardeners in their gardens for my new Facebook page, Gardeners in Their Gardens, and there was a lovely picture of Margaret in a garden in the alert.
I read through her obituary, and learned of her love of snowdrops and the snowdrop parties she was famous for. At the end of the obituary, they mentioned how another galanthophile visited her hours before she passed away, bringing her autumn-flowering snowdrops. She briefly opened her eyes to look at them before she died.
Oh yes, I am definitely going to have autumn-flowering snowdrops in my garden someday.
I want some as well. I was futzing around in the garden yesterday and I found the shoots of snowdrops emerging….I quickly covered them back up although I long for their pristine beauty. Remind me in the spring to order some fall blooming snowdrops please.
They sound delightful!
I saw some in a book and want some too. If you hear of an inexpensive place to purchase them, please post.
A friend of mine has just had an autumn flowering snowdrop named after her ☺
I just learned about this variety, too! Imagine what combinations could be made with fallen leaves!
I'm smarter today because of you. Didn't know there were autumn blooming snow drops. Lovely.
I didn't know about fall blooming snowdrops, either.
Carol, I love this post! Snowdrops are one of my favorite bulbs… largely because of Elizabeth Lawrence's love of them, and because they still bloom every winter in her garden here in Charlotte, NC and they are so tough to be so delicate-looking. Year after year friends email me pictures of the masses of autumn blooming snowdrops at Montrose in Hillsborough, NC, and year after year I swear I will remember to order them for Miss Lawrence's garden. Alas, I STILL haven't remembered to order them, so your post has reminded me to make a huge "Note To Self" for next year. Perhaps a tattoo on the forehead is in order? 😉
Happy Gardening! Andrea Sprott
A lovely tribute to MS. Owen, I bet she was well pleased to get a last glimpse of her beloved snowdrops before passing on.
I know I am late to this party and you state that you cannot respond individually to each comment but here goes: Did you find a source for the autumn blooming snowdrops? As you, I really need some, and am unable to find a source. Thank you!