Well, that was hardly the case this Winter so far in Southeastern PA. There was almost nary a white flake to be seen. However, now the garden snowdrops are putting on a show as they burst from the brown earth with little pops of white.
Snowdrops grow best in cool climates (hardiness zones 3 to 7). They enjoy full sun to light shade and rich, well-drained soil. The flowers are tiny and and the plant itself is only 4 to 6” tall, so planting them in groups ensures a bigger impact. Snowdrops can be grown beneath shade trees and deciduous shrubs, at the front of flower beds, in woodlands, along the banks of a stream and other natural settings. For extra-early flowers, plant the bulbs on a sunny, south-facing slope.
Snowdrops are often combined with other early-flowering bulbs such as crocus, winter aconite, chionodoxa and scilla siberica. All of these bulbs are good naturalizers and will bloom year after year with little or no attention.
You may find it takes a couple years to establish large clumps of snowdrops, but once the bulbs have naturalized, you will have flowers every spring for generations to come.
Martha Washington Garden Club 