Snowdrops & Crocuses

As I was walking the grounds the other day, I came across a swath of crocuses & snowdrops along our driveway. I was so pleased that these harbingers of spring had decided to flower now. Although it's still technically winter, seeing these flowers scattered among the maples, locusts, ash trees and lindens made me hunger for spring. After such a brutal winter with so much snow, any type of color is always a welcoming sight. Take a look.

The lavender-hued crocuses are blooming everywhere around our house. This picture was taken on March 5th.

The crocuses vary in color from lavender to pale pink. You can see that the leaves from last fall have not inhibited blooming.

Here in my hand is a pale mauve, single flower. Simply beautiful!

Here is a closeup of a quartet showing their vivid yellow stamens. These woodland varieties are spring-flowering, Series Verni, Crocus tommasinianus.

Just look at these snowdrops (Galanthus) with their delicate, pendulous flowers. Snowdrops are members of the Amaryllis family and they flower before the vernal equinox.

(Photo taken March 5th)

Here is a small patch of these flowering beauties underneath some partial shade from our maples.

You can see just how small these really are. The flowers are held by a very delicate pedicel which causes them to droop.

A few of these are just beginning to open up. The outer tepals open and reveal an inner flower which is marked with green tips. Believe it or not, these flowers actually have a very delicate fragrance.

If you want to have these beautiful flowers around your house in the spring, you really should plant them in the fall. Crocus bulbs do well in sunny spots and under deciduous trees. They like good draining soil and should be planted 2 to 3 inches deep into the ground, with about 2 to 4 inches of space between the bulbs. If you want a swath of them, simply dig a trench and begin placing your bulbs accordingly. Snowdrops like shaded areas and soil with good drainage (remember, they will be dormant from late spring through the summer). Unlike crocuses, though, the bulbs can be placed in groups of one to two dozen and should be planted about 5 inches into the ground. Check with your local nursery and see what varieties of crocuses and snowdrops are available for your area. These flowers are definitely a great addition to your home and make the arrival of spring a very good thing!

Comments

Antique Salt Cellars

There was a time when salt cellars played an important role on the dining table for the host or hostess. As a result of it being such an expensive commodity several hundred years ago, salt was seen as a luxury and it was the well to do that made salt cellars quite fashionable & a status symbol for the home. A single salt cellar usually sat at the head of the table and was passed around throughout the meal. The closer one sat to the salt cellar, the more important one was deemed by the head of the household. Smaller cellars that were more accessible and with an open top became a part of Victorian table settings. Fast forward to the 20th century when salt was no longer a luxury and when anti caking agents were added to make salt free-flowing, and one begins to see salt cellars fall out of fashion. Luckily for the collector and for those of us who like to set a table with Good Things , this can prove to be a boon. Salt cellars for the table come in silver, porcelain, cut glass

Collecting Jadeite

With its origins dating back to the 1930s, jadeite glassware began its mass production through the McKee Glass Co. in Pennsylvania. Their introduction of the Skokie green & Jade kitchenware lines ushered in our fascination with this jade color. Glassmakers catered jadeite to the American public as an inexpensive alternative to earthenware soon after the Depression, both for the home and for its use in restaurants. The Jeanette Glass Company and Anchor Hocking introduced their own patterns and styles, which for many collectors, produced some of the most sought after pieces. Companies marketed this beautiful glass under the monikers of jadite , jadeite , jade glass , jad-ite , jade-ite , so however you want to spell it, let it draw you in for a closer look. If you want a thorough history of the origins of jadeite, collectors’ pricing, patterns & shapes (don’t forget the reproductions in 2000), I highly suggest picking up the book by Joe Keller & David Ross called, Jadei

How to Paint a Chair

If you have ever felt the need to spruce up a set of chairs or give them a new look, why not try a little bit of paint? Our tastes in decor and color will probably alter throughout our lives, and at some point, we may find ourselves wanting to change the look of our furniture without having to spend a lot of money. That's where a few handy tips, some tools from the hardware store, and good-quality paint come in handy. I know I'm not alone in paying visits to local antique shops, antique fairs and flea markets, and falling in love with pieces of furniture that would be perfect if they were just a different color. You don't have to walk away from a good purchase simply because it's the wrong color. My dear friend, Jeffrey, is forever enhancing his home with collectibles from flea markets and tag sales. However, certain items aren't always up to Jeffrey's tastes when he brings them home. He is the type of person who won't hesitate to chang

Good Things by David

Search This Blog