Early Spring Flowers

The Snowdrop, or Galanthus, is a small genus of about 20 bulbous herbaceous plants, the most common being the Galanthus nivalis. Most Snowdrops technically bloom in Winter, before the vernal equinox, however its small white blooms are taken as a sign of the approaching Springtime. The Snowdrop is native to Europe but has been introduced and naturalized widely around the world.

The Snowdrop is a perennial bulb, producing a tiny, delicate white flower. It can propagate well leading to beautiful "carpets" of Snowdrop flowers in gardens and in the wild. Growing Snowdrops is relatively easy and a wonderful addition to almost any flower garden or landscape.

References:

* Galanthus (Wikipedia)

* Galanthus nivalis (Royal Botanic Gardens)

The crocus is one of the most popular early Spring flowers around the world. It is a genus of flowering plants from the iris family, consisting of 90 different perennial species. Crocus plants can bloom in Autumn, Winter and Spring however they are most associated with late Winter and early Spring, often one of the first blooming flowers that appear in our gardens.

The crocus is a hardy plant that is easy for even beginning gardeners to grow, one that can propagate and spread when naturalized into a grassy area. They come in a variety of different colors from white and yellow to deep, dark purple.

Learn more:

* Crocus (Wikipedia)

* Crocuses: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Crocus Flowers

As a child, the Hyacinth was perhaps the flower I loved the most in my mother's garden. I loved their large spikes of colorful blooms with their wonderful fragrance that would fill the air, even just as you walked by them. When I bought my own home, the hyacinth was one of the first flowers I bought for my own garden as well.

The Hyacinth is often associated with the idea of "rebirth", which of course makes them so perfect for an early Spring garden when new life is coming out of the dormancy of Winter. Growing Hyacinths is relatively simple although they do need good drainage and a sunny spot in your garden. They will return to bloom year after year, although the flower spikes may become smaller and thinner as they age.

Hyacinths make wonderful cut flowers, as cutting the flowering stem when in bloom will not interfere with the plant returning and blooming the following year. That way you can bring the wonderful fragrance of the Hyacinth into your home, or make for a perfect table decoration for an early Spring celebration.

Learn more:

* Hyacinth plant (Wikipedia)

These petite perennials are a common sight in gardens and lawns in early Spring. Typically blue in color, their little urn-shaped flowers look like small bunches of grapes and their appearance is somewhat like a miniature version of the common Hyacinth. The Grape Hyacinth is another easy to grow bulb, however one should be careful about how rapidly they will spread! They can take over a garden area if left to it, but they are perfect for edges or areas that you would like to naturalize with a spreading carpet of tiny flowers.

Learn more:

* Muscari (Wikipedia)

* Grape Hyacinth - Better Home and Gardens