It's always exciting to see those first blooming bulbs emerge from the soil, but are those delicate white early spring flowers snowdrops or snowflakes?
Right now, those blooms are snowdrops, Galanthus - the nodding, crisp white flowers that open above clumps of strap-shaped leaves from January through March. I love Galanthus and have many different varieties here at my farm. The hardy fall-planted bulbs are easy to grow and multiply easily providing carpets of stunning blossoms every year.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
The first white flowers of spring are the snowdrops. This is a snowdrop, Galanthus. The genus name refers to the white color of the flowers – gala is Greek for “milk,” while anthos is Greek for “flower”.
Look closely, these are snowflakes, Leucojum.
Snowdrops… characterized by three small inner petals and three outer petals, which are spoon shaped and longer than the inners.
… And snowflakes, which are typically more lantern-shaped, with pointed, out-curved, green-blotched tips and segments that are each about the same length.
It can be hard to distinguish from afar, and both flowers do share similarities, but they are different, especially in flower form.
These are snowdrop bulbs. We plant them in the fall. Snowdrops should be planted in light to moderate shade and moist but well-drained soil.
When they start to push through the soil, two or three dark green, strap-like leaves come up first and grow four to 10-inches tall.
Galanthus or snowdrop, is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, and native to Europe and the Middle East.
One of the most cultivated is Galanthus nivalis, usually known as the garden snowdrop.
Here is a view from above of the base of the flower, where it begins to nod.
These flower heads can be ‘single’ – one layer of petals – or ‘double’ – multiple layers of petals. And notice the inner petals – they can be blotched heavily with green…
… or just tipped lightly with color.
Here is another variety with interesting markings and rounder outer petals. Some of the varieties I grow include ‘Hippolyta,’ elwesii ‘Mount Everest,’ elwesii ‘Polar Bear,’ nivalis ‘Magnet,’ ‘Sam Arnott,’ ‘ woronowii, plicatus Dionysus, nivalis ‘Viridi-apics,’ ‘Turncoat,’ ‘George Proverbs,’ and ‘Little Ben.’
On this snowdrop, both the inner and the outer petals are blotched.
And here, the inner petals are nearly all green.
This snowdrop is double making it even more interesting.
Underneath, one can see the multiple petals tinged in emerald green.
While this one is smaller, more dainty in single form.
Snowdrops don’t often multiply from seed in a garden, but they will multiply by offsets – new bulbs that grow attached to the mother bulb. And, Because the leaves are vital to build up the bulbs’ food reserves and allow new daughter bulblets to form, never trim or tie them into bunches.
Snowdrops are a pest-free plant. Rabbits and deer won’t eat them, and most chipmunks and mice leave them alone.
And what are these? The bold green foliage of snowflakes… getting ready for their wondrous show.
If you’re ever in or near Philadelphia during the beginning of March, try to stop at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
I hope you saw my photos on my personal Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 - be sure to follow me. Last week, while in the area for a business meeting, I had the opportunity to attend this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. It is the nation’s largest and longest-running indoor flower show, and proceeds benefit the year-round programs organized and managed by the PHS. Started in 1829, the Philadelphia Flower Show gathers hundreds of talented florists, landscapers, and designers from around the world and showcases interesting plant varieties and garden and design concepts. The event also hosts competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging and growing. The 2024 show was called "United by Flowers," and celebrated communities that share in the passion for gardening.
Enjoy these photos.
There is always so much one can learn from attending a flower show. This unusual plant is Bowiea volubilis, or climbing onion. It is a succulent perennial that thrives in the dry desert regions of eastern and southern Africa.
These branches are Corylopsis spicata, or spike winter hazel – part of the exhibit “Two Worlds” by floral designer, Mark Cook.
These yellow cut branches are Oncidium, also known as dancing lady orchids.
This is a closer look at the Arrange Floral and Event Design’s exhibit, “The Orchid,” which won The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show, Floral.
These dried leaves were used in the floor covering for Arrange Floral’s exhibit. They are from Cecropia peltata, or the trumpet tree, a fast-growing tree in the genus Cecropia. It is a common tree in Puerto Rico.
And here is a close up view from Apiary Studios exhibit “Right of Way,” which won the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show, Landscape.
I took this photo of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s entrance garden. It is the first garden visitors saw upon entering the show. It was titled “Edges and Reflections.” It featured 8500 gallons of water, over 14,000 bulbs and tulips, and more than 75,000 fresh cut stems. Seth Pearsoll, Creative Director and VP of PHS led the design of this garden.
It was the Flower Show’s largest body of water ever created. The colorful aerial blooms above reflect in the glass-like water below.
This is called Cleistocactus colademononis, or monkey’s tail. It is a pendant cactus covered in a thick coat of soft, hair-like spines. It is native to Bolivia, where it grows on the sides of cliffs with plenty of sun exposure and high humidity.
This is Clivia miniata, Clivia. I also have clivias at my farm. Clivia miniata, the Natal lily or bush lily, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clivia of the family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to woodland habitats in South Africa.
This is a potted Cymbidium sp., white orchid with its beautiful blooms. These are exceptionally elegant plants with long lasting blooms. Cymbidiums flower anywhere from four to 12 weeks on the plant and at least two to four-weeks as cut flowers.
This ‘Butterscotch’ Rex Begonia features interesting leaves of silver-green with burgundy markings. I have many begonias in my greenhouse – they’re among my favorite of houseplants.
You may recognize this tree, it is Laurus nobilis, or bay laurel. Laurus nobilis is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glabrous leaves. It is in the flowering plant family Lauraceae and native to the Mediterranean region. The leaves are popularly used for seasoning in cooking.
This is Mammillaria orcuttii, spiny cacti with spherical or columnar stems often in clusters. When in bloom, it bears many prominent tubercles, and funnel-shaped flowers usually in a ring near the apex of the stem.
This is called Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’ – an asparagus fern. It is a spreading perennial that has a fine texture with a stiff, upright habit. This plant grows fairly rapidly and could grow up to two-feet tall.
This orchid is Sophrolaeliocattleya rubescent ateus ‘Waterford.’ I also have many orchids in my personal collection, including cattleyas.
Here is a close up of the hanging arrangements from the Schaffer Designs’ exhibit called “Connected: A Floral Legacy.” Many of the installations at the flower show take weeks to complete. This one was also part of the entrance display.
This is from Kelly D. Norris’ exhibit “A Beautiful Disturbance,” showing spontaneous vegetation to promote the growing need to reimagine city spaces as homes for future nature.
And here is an Acer palmatum ‘Arakawa,’
a rough bark Japanese Maple, with an interesting ruff and corky bark. It develops this jagged bark as the juvenile growth matures. This is one of the most popular cultivars in Japan and is highly sought after in both the landscape and for use as bonsai trees.
Before leaving, I stopped for this photo with Seth Pearsoll and Matt Rader, PHS President. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society for a wonderful and informative show.
I always enjoy growing my own plants, but there’s something even more exciting and gratifying about propagating them - producing plants by dividing, grafting, or rooting cuttings from existent stems.
Here at my Bedford, New York farm, I have many hydrangeas including beautiful climbing hydrangeas with their large, lacy white flowers and attractive lush foliage that can be found meandering up the trunks of various trees in warmer months. Recently, my gardeners, Ryan McCallister and Wendy Norling, gathered about 300-climbing hydrangea cuttings and rooted them in pots. It's an easy process that should produce strong roots within weeks.
Enjoy these photos.
Native to Asia, climbing hydrangeas are flowering deciduous vines that bloom from late spring or summer until fall.
Climbing hydrangeas add visual interest to walls, fences, pergolas, and even trees. I have them vining up the trunks of many trees at my farm. Because these plants grow large and heavy, it’s important to make sure the host structure can support the plant’s weight.
These climbing hydrangeas are outside my greenhouse. As true climbers, these plants have aerial rootlets that allow the branches to climb without assistance.
Once a climbing hydrangea is established, it can reach a height of 50-feet or more.
Ryan and Wendy cut the stems now when there are no flowers on the vines.
Wendy cuts stems several inches long right above a leaf node. This is where the new roots will form.
The cuttings are placed into a tall container of shallow water to keep them hydrated until they are planted.
Here is one of the healthy cuttings showing new growth.
Wendy fills the pots with a rich, moist, organic soil mix with good drainage.
The pot should always be filled to just under its to ensure nothing is lost when watered.
Wendy fills the pots in a production line process, which is faster and more efficient when potting many cuttings.
This is rooting hormone. A rooting hormone stimulates root development on the hydrangea cuttings and encourages vigorous, uniform root growth. It’s a good idea never to dip directly into the original container – always transfer small amounts into a dish to avoid any contamination.
Using a spare branch or stick, Wendy makes holes in the soil about three-inches deep and wide enough to insert a cutting without dislodging the rooting hormone powder.
Wendy dips the bottom inch of each cutting into the rooting hormone powder…
The cut end does not need a lot of rooting hormone, but it should be evenly coated.
… And then inserts the cutting into the soil mix.
Wendy inserts three cuttings into each pot. They will be transferred to bigger pots as needed.
Once each pot is done, Wendy lines them up in one section of our seedling “nursery,” where they can be properly maintained.
The entire process takes just a few hours to get all 300-cuttings potted. Similar to other hydrangea plants, climbing hydrangea likes the soil to be consistently moist. These will get about an inch of water weekly. It will be exciting to see these climbing hydrangeas develop and flourish.
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