As you can see, we still have snow! Four inches of ‘mixed’ precipitation fell on Friday into Saturday as Mother Nature played her April Fool’s joke. However, it is melting rapidly on this sunny day, where our high is 47F (8C). While this may not sound warm to many of you, it is downright balmy to us!
Placed into the mushy snow on the deck railing, I’ve filled my little pineapple vase with snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), and surrounded them with oak leaves that sheltered them as they emerged. The snowy garden in the background attests to what remains. Below right is a photo taken of the back yard during the storm:
Years ago, I planted snowdrops next to the front foundation and porch, where the spring sun melts the snow the earliest. As you can see by the nearby icy mound of snow, they definitely earn their name.
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, who hosts a weekly meme to showcase arrangements created from our gardens. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week.
Eliza Waters 
Ah – the snowdrops! You’ve brought us yours this morning just at a time when ours are already this year’s ghosts. I love the leaves around that pretty little vase Eliza – and nice to see where they are growing too. Hope everything warms up soon for you and you move on into spring.
Thank you, Cathy. Monday vasers help extend the growing season for all! 🙂
Glad the warmer weather Is moving your way Eliza! Pretty flower 🌿🍀
Thank you, Karen. It is progressing!
Although I love snow, and snowdrops, I’m glad our year is a little further along than yours…I never thought I would say it, but my old bones need the warmth!
I hear ya! You are blessed to have a shorter, though damper, winter than ours. This one doesn’t seem to want to quit!
At last you have some flowers but that snow! So much of it still, you make me ashamed of complaining about our dull day today.
Contrast always enhances appreciation! 😉
Snow with snowdrops is the perfect prop. I love that you also included the leaves that protected them where they grew. It’s a very sweet arrangement altogether!
Thank you very much!
Superb photographs and display. The autumn leaves was a brilliant stroke offering context and elegance
Thank you so much, Derrick!
Beautiful!
Thank you, Carrie!
Beautiful. We got a lot more than 4″, but some has melted, and then we have more in the forecast for tomorrow. I don’t think Mother Nature cares that we all just want to get outside and pick up sticks and start on our chore list. 🙂
Thank you, Judy. I was thinking about you this weekend, having it worse than I. I guess we should be happy for the extended vacation, but we’re ready and raring to go!
Such a delicate looking but ‘tough and brave’ flower, to be out in the cold! My Crocuses were blooming, mid-afternoon, yesterday (25 m. South of Boston). Went out w/ my iPad…surprise! They were covered with very hungry, buzzing, Honey Bees…they didn’t seem to mind my picture and video taking!
The bees are very hungry after their long winter. Good thing you’ve provided lunch!
My daughter & spouse have bee hives…she was amazed at all the bees on the crocuses! Made me extremely happy to see them!
A clever presentation to remind us there is beauty in every season.
Thank you, Dor. 🙂
LOVE! Only you could make snow look good this time of year (;
😀 Thanks, Kathy!
Brave little flowers! No wonder they’re called snowdrops. The dried leaves are a great touch.
Thank you, Laurie. They are very brave and strong to stand up to Ol’ Man Winter!
Glad you’re enjoying some balmy weather Eliza. It’s all relative, right? The snowdrops are lovely and what a smart plan to place them growing where the snow disappears first so you can enjoy them. Have a great week.
Thank you, Susie, same to you!
My snowdrops emerge first next to the foundation of the house. We are in the 40s today and it feels good, although it is raining. I love the addition of the oak leaves as that is where some of mine grow as well, in oak leaf litter.
Thank you, Linda!
I love the combination of your snowdrops and the leaves that sheltered them. a perfect arrangement for this time of year when winter and spring are battling it out. The appearance of snowdrops helps assure us that spring will eventually win even though Jack Frost is putting up quite a fight.
Especially so this year, it seems. Thanks, Peter!
Snowdrops living up to their name!
Yes! 🙂
Nice post … I love snowdrops! You are not alone … more snow here tonight into Tuesday.
Thank you, Denise. This winter seems to want to linger!
That first photograph says so much . I’m putting it front and center for the next two weeks. It helps me see what I believe.
Thank you so much, Albert. I’m honored!
The leaves around the case make the perfect finishing touch.
Oops – that should have been vase!
Thank you, Susan!
Lovely post. Thank goodness for snowdrops!
Yes, indeed. Thanks, Belinda!
such hearty little souls!
They are! I’m so grateful for their reliable, cheery appearance first thing every year.
What a pretty little vase for those snowdrops – and look at that snow! So easy here to think that winter is all over but I shouldn’t be complacent!
Thank you, Cathy. Some of us still waiting! 😉
Eliza, that’s lovely! I like the contrast between the young, pristine snowdrops (in French we call them perceneiges, snowpiercers) and the old, waned leaves.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you, Samuel!
Such pretty snowdrops to complement the snowy view. I’ve tried to grow them here in San Francisco to no avail as I don’t think it gets cold enough, sigh. As well, I have yours to enjoy.
Here’s my little vase today:
http://chronicadomus.blogspot.com/2017/04/relics-reimagined-black-basalt-pastille.html
Thank you. If you really wanted to experience them (I encourage it as they smell divine), you could order bulbs and put them in the fridge for a few months, then pot them up and set them outside to grow. Totally doable!
I can’t think of a better way to display snowdrops, Eliza. I hope that was your last snowstorm. I’ve been complaining mightily about our own temperatures dipping back down into the 50sF today so, no, 47F doesn’t seem at all balmy to me. Yet, our temperatures are expected to soar again by mid-week and then, just possibly, deliver some rain this weekend – it’s enough to make one dizzy!
Yes, we’re on the end of the yo-yo! Thanks, Kris. 🙂
Lovely, simple, almost Japanese-like composition.
Thank you, Bela!
Gorgeous and so clever to arrange them with the leaves they’d be seen with. Your snowy pictures are lovely to look at but I know you must be longing for spring. I’m sure it’s on the way.
Thank you, Alison. More melts with each passing day… we’ll get there. 🙂
Beautiful snowdrops. Do you often still have snow in April?
Thank you. Good question! In the 90s, mid-April was when the last of the snow disappeared from the yard, but recent years has seen that change to 2-4 wks earlier. So I suppose this year is in line with the old average. Who knows what ‘normal’ is anymore?
That is such a lovely way to showcase them, with the dry leaves from last year. It must be a welcome sight for you after your long winter! Hope your snow melts soon and the ground can warm through this month ready for the explosion of growth to come! 🙂
Thank you, Cathy. It does cheer my heart. The vase is above the kitchen sink and I lift it to sniff every time I’m there. Sweet heaven.
Another warm day or two and the yard will begin to emerge. 🙂
A wonderful way to show off the snowdrops with the oak leaves.
Thank you, Brian.
I’m sorry to hear about the uncooperative weather, but I love the Snowdrops. You did great planting them there. 🙂 Your arrangement reminds me so much of Ireland, where I am now. There are so many Snowdrops here, and leaves like that too. Thanks to you I know what Snowdrops are called now!
Hurrah! Ireland in the spring must be wonderful – enjoy! Thanks for stopping by, Peggy. 🙂
So nice to see those fresh snowdrops again, ours have gone already!
Deja vu for most of our IAVOM friends, our differences in climate helps us enjoy an extended spring!
Gorgeous snowdrops! They look even better against the snow.
Thank you, Fi!
Wow, what a difference 1400 miles makes! No wintry mix here, temps in the high 80s! Love the Snowdrops in fallen leaves = looks just right.
Yes, it does! Your landscape is much more colorful. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by the snowfields. 😉
I know, I need to photograph my winter color Bromeliads, they are fantastic this year. However, the lovely quietude from a snowfall is hard to beat. New word?
Quietude is a recognized word 🙂 It means ‘a state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place.’
Your elementary vocab teacher would be proud! ;D
A perfect word for your place. I caused all my elem english teachers to run screaming from the building.
I bet you did – haha! 😀
Yes, you have me pegged– I love peace and solitude and I have it here in abundance, for which I am most grateful!
Artistry reflecting nature. Love it Eliza 💛
Thank you, Val!
I think I’m going to copy your approach and plant some snowdrops on our warm southern foundation wall. We finally have a few spears of crocus coming up and some tulips on our south wall–but it is snowing yet again (after yesterday’s lovely tease of warmth and sun.) My new bees are due in two weeks, and I’m starting to get worried that nothing will be blooming for them.
I highly recommend foundation planting for snowdrops and snow crocus, by March we are starved for growing things. The bees are happy for the early blooms, too. The scent near the porch is heavenly!
If there are no blooms in 2 weeks, can you feed them sugar or honey water?
Yes, any bit of bloom will be cherished at this point! I planted a whole bunch of crocuses in front of the hive and am hoping that they will be almost ready to bloom when the bees get here. There should be some trees blooming as well. But, yes, I will feed them sugar water for the first few weeks and there is plenty of honey left from the hive I lost. They will need pollen, though, so let’s hope the weather warms soon.
Fingers crossed!
A delightful celebration of snowdrops, Eliza~~
Thank you, Jet!
…and here I always thought you were warmer than me. Not this spring, we missed that snow last week and it’s made a huge difference as far as spring moving ahead. Now we just have to dry out a bit!
Love the arrangement 🙂
Thank you, Frank. I reckon I’m about six hours northeast of you in the hills of western MA. Back in the ol’ days, we would have snow cover til mid-April, but with CC it’s been 2-4 wks earlier, so we got kind of spoiled. I’d say this is a 20th century ‘normal’ winter for us. Can’t really complain, the trees are getting a deep watering. 😉
Ohhhhhh… for some reason I thought you were on the other side of where I’m at! Things seem earlier each year here as well. Some of the “first” days are starting to match the firsts of my hometown which has now moved all the way to a zone 7.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
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How pretty, and the use of the dried leaves is inspired for a lovely contrast. I’m going to remember that one 🙂
Thank you!
Obsessed with that vase 😍
Thank you – I think it was originally a toothpick holder. 🙂