Can spring be far behind as the snowdrops arrive?

Peter Dowdall muses on the harbinger bloom, the delicate-looking, but tough-as-old-boots, Galanthus.

It’s one of the first flowers of each New Year. When you see it poking its head up through frozen and frosty ground, its dainty and delicate head nodding on top of short stems, you can’t help but be impressed by its sheer resilience and determination.

Each year it intrigues me that something so beautiful, delicated and so simple-looking can be so tough. You see, it gives of its best during the harshest of weather. Snow and ice and cold temperatures may well keep we gardeners out of the garden, sending us indoors to the fireside to enjoy the seed catalogues and maybe a horticultural christmas present, but not so the snowdrops. Blooming from now on, they are a sure sign that no matter how bad the winter we experience, that spring is on its way.