Snowdrops in a Forest
Spring flowers to admire
I already wrote about the best winter flowers in my previous hub. It was about those flowers which you can cherish in your garden. Later in the net I found that some people are so found of snowdrops that every year visit forests to see snowdrops in nature. I was lucky because I also had a chance to see these tiny flowers in nature.
Mane people associate snowdrops with a new life and new hope. In Russia there is a legend telling that an old Granny Winter together with Frost and Wind wanted to stop coming of Spring the Beauty. But the Spring had a defender - a Snowdrop who asked the Sun for a help. The Sun warmed up the earth and opened the way for a Spring the Beauty to come. Nice legend which is absolutely trustworthy because blossoming of snowdrops really separate winter from spring.
We made a trip to find snowdrops in the end of March. It was a time when the snow has already melted away and nature was waking up after winter. No leaves yet, and it seemed absolutely unreal to see anything like flowers in a forest.
The place we were looking for is in Ukraine. Its address would not tell you anything unless you live here. I am not hiding it and if you come to Ukraine I would gladly accompany you there, (note, absolutely FREE :-) This forest is in Cherkassy region. It is known probably to many and many people in Ukraine for its historic background. It is like Sherwood Forest known for Robin Hood in UK. This is an oak forest with many hornbeams. The forest is located near the village and many local people try to make some extra cash in spring collecting wild garlic and selling it to city folks striving for organic food and natural vitamins.
Collecting of snowdrops and wild garlic is protected by law in Ukraine and is prohibited but forest is big, and people were doing this for many and many years. Besides people in villages do not often have too much money and do not care much about any law (until police catches and fines them).
Snowdrops usually appear before wild garlic in this region so our chances to find snowdrops on the 30th of March were almost close to nil because we went too late.
Snowdrops searching
It is amazing to be in a forest at this time of the year. It is not a time of green leaves and forest is far from been poetic. Bare trees and every little sprout that comes out of last year fallen leaves seem to be so gentle and unprotected. The whole forest is still empty. Even birds did not come home yet from warm Africa where they stayed all winter. The only plant which is seen everywhere is wild garlic. It easily comes through a thick coat of oak leaves and enjoys every single and rare sunbeam. I would never find any snowdrop if it were not my father who grew up at this place and knew it. Snowdrops grew in an isolated place which is like a small canyon. One of the slopes of this canyon is a favorite place of snowdrops because it gives them a chance to get more sunshine, then any other place in a forest.
Those snowdrops which we have seen grew up mostly near oak trunks under a thick cover of leaves. The flowers were so fascinating that I could not but buy several bulbs in a shop later on and planted them in the backyard of the house.
The bulbs were planted in a shadow on the depth of 5-10 cm. If the depth will be small then the new bulbs will grow directly from this parental bulb. If you plant it deeper the new bulb will come out of the stem. Distance between the bubs should be around 5 cm. Snowdrops can grow at the same place for many years, but if you need to move them to another place you can do it anytime, even at a time of blossoming. The period of their blossoming is short but even this short time brings you much joy and hope.
Good luck to anyone who loves flowers and enjoys every moment of taking care of them.
Comments
There is something so touching about this--I love these little white blossoms!
Pavlo,
I have returned to read, and share, your Hub another time.
- AUTHOR
Thank you! This photo is probably the best shot I ever made. I like it as well!
What a beautiful hub, Pavlo. I love the delicate little white blossoms peeking out into the barren forest. The photos are clear and quite touching. The one of father and son together is a beautiful photo to put in a frame. Make one for each your father and son for a gift to treasure. :) Thanks for sharing. UP/A
- AUTHOR
I think it is too hot for them in Florida. This flower likes much colder place. But you are lucky to have many other flowers which do not grow here!
These are just beautiful little flowers. I love flowers! I've heard of snowdrops before, but I don't think they grow where I live in S. Florida.
Voted this UP, etc.
- AUTHOR
TO Daisy and Joan: Thank you! I am so glad you liked it. I am making plans of visiting forest this year as well to see them blossoming.
Hi Pavlo, another Hub of the type I most enjoy! Lovely sentiments and lovely photos! Voted up, beautiful and interesting, also shared! Have a good day!
Pavlo,
Thanks for publishing this very interesting article. The photographs are wonderful, especially the one of your father and son.
My grandparents were all Russian...from Russia, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. I've heard many anecdotes about their walking in the woods looking for flowers or wild blueberries.
- AUTHOR
Thank you for a comment. I am glad this hub remembered you of your childhood.
Pavlo, I have to say growing up in rural India, I am reminded of the woods behind my house. What a wonderful experience that was and this reminds me of my younger child hood years.
Thank You
- AUTHOR
There are so many flowers in India which are absolutely unknown to us! Thank you for a comment!
Really good hub. I didn't knew about Snowdrops but this hub really helped. Voted up & shared.
- AUTHOR
Thank you AliciaC! It is winter now and it is nice to dream about spring.
Snowdrops are such beautiful little flowers. They are a wonderful sign of spring. Thank you for sharing the photos and the lovely description of your search for snowdrops.
- AUTHOR
Thank you jill! I am waiting for the spring to come already. I have great plans to visit that place again!
What a great excuse for getting out in nature--snowdrop hunting! Nice hub, Pavlo. Take care, Jill
- AUTHOR
I am sure India has much more other flowers. You are lucky to live in a region which is a paradise for anyone fond of flowers! Thank you for a comment!
wow beautiful pictures and beautiful flowers.We dont get snow drop flowers here but I like them and searched on net. These are beautiful flowers.
- AUTHOR
Thank you! May be some incredible day I will come to Bali and see that plant :)
Beautiful photos and descriptions up there, Pavlo. I hope your son will inherit the love for nature and the joy as your father and you. By the way, I think there is a native plant in my country with flowers that look like snowdrops, although it seems impossible due to the climate. I just got the feeling, you know. May be that is why I get to feel familiar with your snowdrops picture. Nice hub :)
- AUTHOR
I am glad you got the idea of the whole story. It was not about snowdrops themselves, it was about that joy they give to us!
Alas we do not have wild crocuses. They grow much more to the South.
Have a nice weekend!
Excellent hub, Pavlo! I really enjoyed hearing the Ukrainian legend about Spring's triumph over Winter. The snowdrops are lovely. We all long for signs of spring after a long winter. Where I come from, we looked for crocuses and grape hyacinth. The flowers are different, but the joy at finding them is the same! Thank you for sharing this adventure with us.
Pavlo - Thank your for noticing. I am happy if I can inspire anyone to write or read or draw or paint. :) I think this "talent" is a gift or ability I inherited from my mother. She was a great encourager and could always help me see a little further than I expected. :) Have a wonderful weekend. ~~Theresa
- AUTHOR
To Xstatic : Dear Jim, one should not be keen in gardenig to enjoy flowers. It is a movement of your soul and does not depend much on the knowledge of flowers you have :) Thank you for a comment and kind words!
- AUTHOR
Dear Theresa, thank you for a comment! Do you know that you have a talant to inspire authors? After your comments I start thinking of other hubs still unwritten, hoping someone would like them too :)
This is a beautiful hub, and though I don't know much about flowers, and I don't believe we have Snowdrops in Oregon, I enjoyed the story of seeking them out very much. The wild garlic is intriguing too. Up and all but funny on this one.
I found your Hub due to phadst sharing it. Thank you, Teresa.
Pavlo - They are beautiful. What an amazing flower able to bloom so early in the year. You have combined in this hub the heart of a gardener / nature lover with the mind of a historian and the soul of a poet! All the description of the forest and the village people and the comparison to Sherwood Forest. So poetic, just wonderful. This is a terrific piece of writing. Thank you very much. SHARING. ~~Theresa
- AUTHOR
Glad you liked it! After the winter it is a first feature showing that spring is coming so we all wait for blossoming impatiently.
Pavlo, the pictures of the barren forest and the snowdrops is absolutely stunning. I really enjoyed reading. Voted beautiful.
- AUTHOR
Hi, the world is so interesting around us. I did not expect anyone to comment this hub at least till January. But I forgot that in your region spring comes in other months! This is so amazing for me! Thank you for a comment!
It's spring in Melbourne Australia right now - snowdrops have just emerged from the earth and look splendid. I always feel particularly happy when the first flowers appear after the winter. I should add that our winters are fairly mild.
- AUTHOR
Your comment shows just again how poetic you are! They are very unusual indeed. I already collect a company to see snowdrops next spring in a forest. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
snowdrops is very beautiful, right? they're very white and its like they're shy, humbly bowing. Wish I could see snowdrops for real!
Reading your hub gave me a smile, it reminded me of my childhood, I used to collect snowdrops and wild garlic every spring, I think I still remember the smell of it :) Thank you!
- AUTHOR
Glad you liked it! The picture you noted is actually my favourite. Thank you for stopping by!
Beautiful hub, with your father passing on tradition to your son. The photos of the snowdrops show good detail. Thank you for sharing them with other gardeners.
- AUTHOR
Finally smb noticed the photos!! I am proud of the photo with my father and my son. Of course a professional photografer can do them better, but I adore it. Thank you!
I am facinaed by snowdrops! I have never heard of them before. I live in NY 1.5 hours east of Niagra Falls...we do not have them here.
I love the picture of your father and son and of the snow drops :)
- AUTHOR
Wow! Envy you ...
In January here there are millions upon millions of them!!
Ian.
- AUTHOR
Yep, they are not frequent here. At least I do not know such places where they grow in density. Thanks for comment!
Snowdrops are one of my favourite flowers. Here in Scotland they are a sign that Nature is still alive in January. They are so simple and absolutely beautiful and you find them anywhere and everywhere. From what you say they seem to be rare in the Ukraine.
Ukrainian snowdrops and Scottish snowdrops are exactly the same!
Lovely Hub and lovely pics.
Ian.
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