When Galadriel met Robin Hood

Although the main flowering period for snowdrops is now coming to an end, we still have a fair number of varieties that are looking good, among them the large-flowered 'Galadriel' (named after J.R.R. Tolkien's ethereal Lady of Lórien by Beth Chatto's nursery manager David Ward) and 'Robin Hood' a cultivar that dates back to the late 19th century. Here are both legendary characters, along with a selection of other snowdrops photographed over the last few days...

Galanthus elwesii 'Galadriel'

Galanthus 'Robin Hood'

Galanthus 'George Elwes'

Galanthus nivalis 'Greenish'

Un-named green-tipped Galanthus nivalis found in our garden

Galanthus nivalis 'Lady Elphinstone'

Galanthus 'Mrs Wrightson's Double'

Galanthus nivalis 'Tiny Tim'

Galanthus 'Tubby Merlin'

Galanthus nivalis 'Angelique'

Galanthus nivalis 'Blewbury Tart'

Galanthus plicatus 'Bill Baker'

Galanthus 'Seagull'

Wonderful 'ordinary' snowdrops around an old apple tree

Signs of spring

While lying on the grass admiring the crocuses on Saturday (see last post), I became aware of movement in the nearby leaf litter, which turned out to be this emerging Herald moth. We watched it warm up in preparation for flight, rapidly vibrating its wings and body.

Developing frog spawn photographed on 23 Feb

On Monday, we woke to the sound of quacking Mallards gorging themselves on the mass of developing tadpoles in the lower pond; a duck (we think the same one that has nested with us for the past several years, as she has a characteristic deeper-than-normal quack) and two drakes. We have stretched a net over part of the pond to try and ensure that at least some of the tadpoles stand a fighting chance of making it to the froglet stage..
 
Other signs of the rapidly gathering spring include our first wild daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) of the year, flowering primroses (Primula vulgaris) and masses of sweet violets (Viola odora) on a sunny south-facing bank. The dawn chorus is really getting going too, with Mistle and Song Thrushes, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin and Wren setting the early pace, joined a little later by Great, Blue, Coal and Marsh Tits, Chaffinch and Wood Pigeon. Dippers and Grey Wagtails seem to be a permanent fixture around the stream, while late morning today I watched a feeding Goldcrest tumbling through the branches of a goat willow on the edge of the wood.

March sunworshippers

The first day of meteorological spring brought long sunny spells and the crocuses stretched open appreciatively...

Crocus tommasinianus – the original and best

I planted species Crocus tommasinianus in the main meadow several years ago and for me this is still the best crocus of all; elegant, beautifully proportioned, subtle in its colouring and deceptively tough. Each spring I make a mental note to plant more, but somehow manage to overlook the vital ordering part... The bulb catalogues arrive during the dog days of summer and there always seems to be plenty of time, until you look up and it's Christmas!

Elsewhere, several clumps of the more showy cultivar C. tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant' (left and below) are gradually expanding, having been introduced by one of our predecessors, many moons ago. This is a 'feel good' flower, through and through. As I lay down in the grass for a closer view this afternoon, I was smiling outside and in.

Crocuses and photographer sunbathing...

I like to grow other crocuses in pots, to make a cheerful display near the kitchen door – and to keep the corms away from mice, voles and squirrels... This year, the relentless wet and windy weather in February gave them a real battering, but true to form the surviving flowers opened wide to the sun today, albeit some of them from a prostrate position!

Crocus sieberi subsp. sublimis 'Tricolor'  – beaten flat by rain

Crocus 'Ard Schenk' – new to me this year.