Regardless what the ground hog announced on March 1st... these fearless gems are the first signs of Spring.
Originally believed to be a wildflower native to Britain, the snowdrop is actually native to Europe and the Middle East. It was brought to Britain by the Romans. It is a small genus of about 20 species of plants in the Amaryllidaceae family. They have been known by other names in early history. However, it was, a Swedish botanist, who named the snowdrop the Galanthus nivalis, “milk flower of the snow,” in 1753. It has been introduced into other areas outside of Europe and is now part of any backyard landscape.
The white of the snowdrop symbolizes innocence and purity. Because it is the first flower to bloom at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it also symbolizes hope.
After a dark winter in the Northeast USA these joyful sprouts are refreshing to the eye and spirit. I had a few neighbors stop by to admire these clusters popping up in my front yard.
March can still be snowy and very soggy as the ground unfreezes. However, it's not to early to start maintenance gardening. One thing that can be accomplished is to feed the roots of your perennials with organic fertilizer. They will thank you and the plant will thrive into full bloom. Save the yard clean-up from winter debris when the ground is less soggy; (unless you like making pot-holes with your footprint).
In the meantime here's a awesomely simple and fun filled way to wallow-away the time while waiting for better conditions to pull the weeds... LoL! This video is a great way to generate interest in how things grow in unusual ways. Try some of these indoor gardening hacks!
Happy Spring Equinox March 20, 2021
Comments