Or snowdrops and snowflakes.  As I mentioned the other day, we have both here.  As always, in a slightly perverse fashion, we have more Leucojum (snowflakes) which are the larger, bell shaped type.  They occupy about 30 square feet of ground beneath a hemlock, pine, oak area, which has western exposure.  Over the years we have gradually helped the patch’s expansion, though it mostly expands by virtue of its own seeds and divisions.  The Leucojum doesn’t seem to mind the intermittent streamlet in the area (winter flooding can sometimes dislodge the bulbs).  Nor does it mind the heavy oak leaf cover.  It is this latter issue that appears to be the downfall of the Galanthus, which generally are said to be the hardier type.  The Galanthus simply does not have stems sturdy enough to get through the leaves.  Possibly, I haven’t experimented.

In any event, they make a lovely white carpet beneath the hemlock, just as if they were a remnant snowdrift, only shining in the sun.  The leaves will stay as a good green groundcover well into summer, an added benefit.

Leucojum, on the table.

 

Galanthus, outside.