I expect you are as it means a fan of snowdrops. If you look carefully you can see
these delicate flowers emerging now which is such a joy at this cold time of year.
The tiny snowdrop holds so much meaning and beauty, a garden just is not
complete without them. They herald the beginning of spring with a purity and
innocence. The white of the snowdrop symbolises innocence and purity and
because it is the first flower to bloom at the end of winter and the beginning of
spring, it also symbolises hope.
Snowdrops produce one small white flower which droops its head toward the
ground. When the flower opens it has three inner petals that are covered by three
outer petals. The head of the flower will collapse in freezing temperatures and
reopen when the weather gets warmer.
The Romans brought the snowdrop here and it was Carl Linnaeus, 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 the Middle
East where it has naturalised.
Myths and Legends
A Moldovan legend describes a fight between Lady Spring and Winter Witch;
details show that at a point in the battle Lady Spring cuts her finger. The drop of
blood melted the snow and a snowdrop flower grew. The pure white flower was a
sign of Lady’s Spring’s victory over the Winter Witch.
A German folktale shows a gentler side to the snowdrop. At the beginning of time,
Snow searched for a colour to borrow. The elements admired flowers and their
colours. When Snow asked and pleaded for one of the colours of the flowers, the
flowers turned away denying Snow a colour; they felt Snow was too cold and
unpleasant. The snowdrop however felt sorry for Snow and offered it its colour.
Snow accepted the gift and became white from that point on. To show its gratitude, Snow allowed snowdrops to bloom at the end of winter with Snow’s protection
against snow and ice. Snow and snowdrops exist side-by-side as friends.
To A Snowdrop by William Wordsworth
Lone Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they
But hardier far, once more I see thee bend
Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,
Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,
Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay
The rising sun, and on the plains descend;
Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend
Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May
Shall soon behold this border thickly set
With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing
On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;
Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,
And pensive monitor of fleeting years!
As today 2nd February is Candlemas we conclude with a prayer and thank Penny for her thoughtful reflection on Snowdrops or otherwise known as Candlemas Bells.
