Monday, February 27, 2006
Marching Snowdrops
After a relatively mild January, we've had a brutal February; not in terms of snow (there hasn't been much), but in terms of near-record cold. Today, as February wanes, and March is in the wings, the sun finally broke out, and it warmed up. As I walked through the still almost barren garden, one got the feeling the woods and garden have just awakened from a long, deep sleep, and had just stumbled out into the bright sunlight, not knowing yet what to make of it, or just what was happening. The cardinals and titmice were starting to sing off in the woods, but were still tentative, not yet having their hearts in it. Somehow, the greater snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii) have largely remained in bloom, their flowers just a little worse for the wear. When the temperatures drop down severely, the snowdrops lay their flowers down on the ground, somewhat protected by the spathe. When the weather finally warms, and the sun comes out, they stand up again, but never quite as straightly as before; it has been said that they look a little stoop-shouldered. The few hardy honey bees that are out buzzing about are happy to see the snowdrops, as they are the only flowers out, so they get quite a going-over. It is supposed to be 60 degrees with a chance of rain on the first of March... the flower bulbs and I will have trouble sleeping the next few nights. 
// posted by IBOY @ 6:16 PM 
