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The most prevalent in our garden are Galanthus nivali identified by the distinct small green bridge between the three petals that form the flower. Although this is classified as the native UK snowdrop, it was first recorded in the UK as recently as the 1770's. 
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Along the Ock Valley Walk there are a few small clumps, finding the shade provided by the trees an ideal habitat. Snowdrops don't often spread via pollination (maybe they flower too early in most of the UK to attract pollinating insects), so these are possibly garden escapees, maybe spread by a person or an animal moving the bulbs. With the different shaped flower they are likely to be one of the other 75 variety of snowdrop in the UK.
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For truly impressive snowdrop numbers, a short journey down the A34 to Welford Park near Newbury, where the snowdrop wood contains hundreds of thousands of snowdrops and where a walk in the sunshine gives a feeling that spring at last is on it's way.
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I've got them in my yard right now too! Definitely a sign that spring is near.
ReplyDeleteI saw my first snowdrops this morning! What a gorgeous series of photos, especially the first one.
ReplyDeleteMike & Anne,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
Mike - They are a sign of spring, but given recent weather it seems spring is still some time away.
Anne - Thank you, although I have to confess it did take a lot of trials to get a photo I liked.