The Lowly Snowdrop

"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size."- Gertrude S. Wister

Are you one of those gardeners who didn't plant bulbs this fall? Now that Christmas is over and the seed catalogs are coming in...do you wish that you had? I fall into that very category. I was not able to dig to plant bulbs, but now I feel better and wish that I had enlisted some one's help and plant a few. A neighbor offered, but I hated to take her up on it, because she had work of her own to do. So here I sit looking at my catalogs and regretting.I will just have to be satisfied with the bulbs that have been planted in years past. The first little flower to come up in my yard is a snowdrop. The quote above tells it all. Later in the year, when flowers are abundant, we might not pay attention to a lowly snowdrop, but when the first one pops through the snowy landscape...we all grab our cameras and snap many pictures of it. There it stands.. with it's nodding head...braving the coldest temperatures to put on a show for us. It's really more showy to plant a bunch of them together. What do you suppose is going on underground in winter? I like to imagine the little bulbs waking up and sending up their bright green shoots...slowly. I think that they may peek out one sunny day and then retreat, where it is safe and warm. Maybe they keep doing this for a time...until they feel the temps are just right. Then, when it is safe, they push up out of the ground and stand tall...as if posing for pictures.

The Lowly Snowdrop..by Balisha

There is a little flower that I hold so very dear..

It braves the coldest weather..to visit me right here.

I look at all the catalogs that come to me each day..

And see the little snowdrops looking oh so gay.

I go back to my garden to take another look..

A tiny snowdrop breaking ground.. like the picture in the book.

She looks at me and nods her head..I imagine a little smile..

If she could talk I know she'd say.."Spring's coming in a while.

Just be patient Balisha dear, and tend to other things..

Before you know it you'll have flowers...and then it will be Spring."

Stay warm...Balisha