Pencil 11x11"
They are firmly embedded in our culture, in literature, poetry and folklore. Colourful country alias' abound - Candlemas Bells, Mary's taper, Snow piercer, February fairmaids, Dingle-dangle.. Surprisingly they were not recorded until relatively late as a wild species -
"We look on it as a wild flower, yet most of it's colonies probably began as garden escapes. It nay not even be a British native, despite it's seemingly ancient pedigree."
Richard Mabey
Their wintry cadence is captured by Ted Hughes in his poem "Snowdrop" : "Her pale head heavy as metal.." but maybe poet Alice Oswald should have the last word, from her collection "Weeds and Wild Flowers" :
"Yes, she's no more now than a drop of snow on a green stem - her name is now her calling.... But what a beauty, what a mighty power Of patience kept intact is now in flower."