Best Way to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh For Long Time

You’ve just got a bouquet or floral arrangement home. Maybe it was delivered (wrapped or in water), or you picked the flowers up at a florist or even the grocery store. So you’re wondering how best to prepare and display the flowers to extend their life. The good news is that keeping flowers fresh for as long as possible is fairly straightforward.

As soon as you have the flowers at home you remove them from the wrap, or remove them from the water they’re currently in. You will cut about an inch, maybe even a little bit more, off the bottom of the stems. Cut at approximately a 45 degree angle not straight across, why? Because flowers take up water through the stem, and cutting at an angle gives a greater area for the flower to absorb water through. Use a sharp knife or sharp shears that last thing you want to do is to crush the stem; you want a nice clean through cut. While you’re doing this, also be sure to strip any foliage that will be in or under water all you want in the water is the stem, no buds or leaves. Leaves in the water will contribute to rot, and shorten the lifetime of your flowers.

black and white pencil skirt, dots and bows

It's a bit more Autumnal today. I wore my favourite black and white houndstooth pencil skirt; it's made from silk linen and boned for the most perfect fit (and the most thorough wrinkling, but that's life!). I added my new black shiny belt, which can have different scarfs and such threaded through, and tied at the back – so I can add different colours. Handy. And I topped it off with my black and white polka dot scarf, secured with a vintage dress clip... and my red lipstick. I missed it these past few days, and it's always nice to come back. (And when will I decide on the colour for this room? I think I should just take those swatches down!)

dress clip vintage, gift from Nicole at Circa Vintage (thank you very much! x)
black and white polka dot scarf, 1980s white blouse, black belt, 1980s black and white pencil skirt thrifted
black peep toes with possibly my favourite shape of heel zu online (had them for ages, wear all the time, lasting so well. Hats off, Zu!)

Magnolia Flowering Trees

Most modern landscapes cannot support huge trees. Fortunately, most trees have dwarf varieties or similar smaller species to choose from. When choosing small flowering trees, it is a good idea to consider how they will look in every season. There are fewer broadleaf evergreen flowering trees to choose from than there are deciduous trees.

Evergreen Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora is a beautiful tree if given the right conditions. The large white fragrant blooms in early summer are unsurpassed. The species is a 40-50 foot tree, but there are smaller cultivars more suited to our climate.

Magnolia 'Brackens Brown' is a 20-foot tree. It gets its name from the felt-like brown layer on the underside of the leaves. Magnolia 'Brackens Brown' is a 20-foot tree. It gets its name from the felt-like brown layer on the underside of the leaves. Magnolia grandiflora 'Edith Bogue' is a columnar 15-20 foot variety. It will reach a similar height, but will fit into a narrower space. The smallest evergreen magnolia is Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' at 15-20 feet.

There are things to consider when choosing any type of magnolia for the landscape. They have delicate, brittle roots so extra care is needed when planting. They do not like to be disturbed once they are established. The evergreen magnolias are dense and will create shade beneath them, so grass may not do well, and only shallow-rooted, shade-loving plants should be placed below them. Evergreen magnolias like full sun and average water.

There are deciduous magnolias that are smaller yet. A popular one is the Lily Magnolia, Magnolia 'Liliflora', which develops purple tulip shaped blooms before the leaves in spring. It will sometimes bloom again in summer in our region.

A wonderfully scented magnolia with yellow blooms is Magnolia'Butterflies'. This one will top out at around 20 feet. An underused magnolia is Magnolia 'Seidoldii', which has white open flowers and burgundy stamens. Once mature it can bloom sporadically all summer. It is only 10 feet tall, so it could be classified as a tall shrub. Most magnolias are as wide as they are tall, so they do take horizontal space in the garden.

Another good smaller evergreen tree is the Strawberry Tree, Arbutus unedo. It has elongated thick evergreen leaves and attractive reddish stringy bark. In late summer it develops clusters of white urn shaped flowers followed by red winter berries.

The berries are rounder in shape, but are dimpled like strawberries, though they are mealy and bland. The birds will take them off your hands before they can make a mess. There will be green, orange and red berries on the tree at the same time. The compact strawberry tree has smaller leaves and in my landscape has reached 12 feet.

Crape Myrtles are great small late summer flowering trees. They range from 10-to-30 feet in size. These are drought-tolerant trees that need full sun, and perfect drainage. They will develop clusters of white, pink, salmon, purple or red flowers. They bloom in late summer or early fall and are sweetly scented. Make sure the variety of crape myrtle you choose is hardy to zone 8, or lower for our area. When choosing flowering trees for your landscape, think beyond flowering cherries.

green silk dress

Almost one whole month into Autumn (I know, I sound obsessed!) and we had a cooler, cloudy day. I got this 1960s dress from etsy about a year ago, and it was a staple all last winter. In fact, so were these shoes. And now I am enjoying them again – and that feels good.





For some reason, I always feel the cold here on my legs. I would go through London winters in knee high boots, knee length skirts and bare legs and not give it a second thought, but here? Must be the dry air here... anyway, I am going to enjoy bare legs for now. And was it listening to Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath that made me mani-pedi in black?








Thank you so much for your comments on my dress form – and all the wonderful name ideas! We are clearly thinking alike :) I am leaning towards one or two, and she's about to tell me.

silk paisley dress etsy.com
black shoes forever new
black bow, hiding in the back of my hair equip
black nail varnish sportsgirl it's cheap and it's good!

music fleetwood mac sisters of the moon – have you seen the full moon tonight?

Columbine Flowers in Garden

With flowers suspended on thin, wiry stems, bobbing along in the breeze as if floating on water, the columbine makes the perfect addition to any garden or landscape.

Columbine foliage is reminiscent of maidenhair fern, being attached to the plant by long petioles. The flowers' colors range from purple and blue to yellow, white and red. Columbine bi-colored varieties of red and white, red and yellow, and blue and white are spectacular.

The flowers either turn up or nod downward. A notable feature of the columbine flower is the spur that is attached to each of the five petals. The spurs resemble an eagle's claw for which the Latin translation is "aquila" which is related to the columbine genus name, Aquilegia. These spurs are thrust backward and create a counterbalance that allows the flowers to nod and bob with the slightest breeze.

Though these plants look fragile, they really are tolerant of many environments. Planted in full or partial shade, columbine will thrive and flower profusely. This plant likes good loamy to gravelly soil, and a rock garden is its favorite. Once the tap root has become established, the columbine shouldn't be transplanted.

Columbine is a re-seeding perennial. In past years, columbine growing in my garden produced new seedlings each spring around the original plants. Re-seeding is a nice trait, as columbine should be treated as a short-lived perennial. The extra plants are easily thinned, and when you give them away, you'll make friends in the neighborhood.

Most of the plants at the garden centers are improved hybrids and selected to display the biggest and brightest garden performers. However, there are several other columbine species that are landscape worthy.

While plants may not be available at the garden center, these plants will easily grow from seed. Wild columbine (A. canadensis) prefers moist, wooded sites. The plant grows to 2 feet tall and has red sepals and short spurs with yellow petals. Golden columbine (A. chrysantha) has 2- to 3-inch diameter flowers that are a pure yellow-gold color and extra long spurs. It is a tall, loose growing 2- to 4-foot tall perennial.

For those interested in a smaller plant, the alpine columbine (A. alpina) fits the bill at 1- to 2-feet tall. The blue flowers have short, curved or hooked spurs.

My sales blog

Oh, this was so hard to do: I have finally set up my sales blog. I am going to sell some clothes and shoes that I've bought over the past year or so (mostly from etsy or ebay) that, sadly, don't fit me. It really was very hard to do; I sort out what I can let go of, then find myself trying it on, deciding I can make it work... but I am being strong (read: sensible) and say goobye to things that I cannot alter in order to make them fit. I have listed three so far, and you can find them here:

esme and the lane way's sales

I don't like selling things on ebay (so fiddly, yeesh) and I am not in the running to set up an etsy shop (as fun as it looks :) ) as I just have a few things, so I think this is the best way for me to do this. Please let me know what you think. And, if you have any suggestions or feedback, please feel free to comment and tell me! It's a new thing for me, so I am learning as I go. :) I am rather nervous about pressing publish post actually, isn't that silly! Here goes!

Flowers' Power in the Perfume

Longwood's blooms illustrate new exhibit that explores the art and passion of fragrance. Flowers' power in the perfume world will be explored at Longwood Gardens' new exhibition, ''Making Scents: The Art and Passion of Fragrance.''

The massive presentation will turn the gardens' indoor Conservatory into a treat for the senses at a time when its outdoor gardens also will be filled with blooming daffodils, magnolias, azaleas, flowering cherries and more than 235,000 tulips.

''Making Scents'' opens April 10 and continues to Nov. 10.

A flower-filled 18-foot-tall sculptural trellis, shaped like a perfume bottle, will welcome visitors to Longwood's Conservatory in Kennett Square, Chester County. A highlight will be discovering the plants and flowers behind iconic perfumes including Chypre, Shalimar and Allure. But that's only a small part of this sniff-and-tell experience. Substantial space is dedicated to explaining both the art and science poured into creating a perfume.

Visitors will sniff mystery perfume scents and learn to classify them according to the type of aroma they have from floral, citrus and fern to woody, Oriental or leather. More than 260 different aromatic plants and flowers from around the world have been added to the conservatory's existing collection for the indoor part of this exhibition.


Among the key flowers in bloom at the start of the exhibition will be yellow freesias, Oriental lilies, hyacinths and gardenias along with sweet white jasmine flowers. A special treat will be catching whiffs of the cananga tree's ylang-ylang flowers. These blooms from trees that grow in Indonesia and the Philippines are highly prized and are used to add depth and intensity to several high-profile perfumes.

Flowers and scents will change with the seasons. In bloom, too, will be a spring assortment of lilacs, lilies and narcissus. In summer, guests will be able to stop and smell the roses, scented geraniums, lavender and Brugmansias. Sage, mint, lemon and rosemary will be among the autumn scents while scents of paperwhites, pine, juniper and fir will be in place for the winter holiday season.

1960s dress form

Yesterday (Saturday) I got something I have been looking for for ages – a dress form. And a 1960s one, still in its original box, no less. I am rather pleased with this; I don't come across them very often, and when I do they are never my size. But this was meant to be. It has my measurements exactly. And the timing is perfect. I have some sewing projects I want to crack on with, and, having got some expert advice, I can now do them with a little help from – it? – she! – well, my dress form needs a name. Enid? Ethel? Maud? When I know, I'll tell you :)



Actually today I am wearing a dress that needs a bit of altering, though truth be told I won't need hmm-hmm's (insert name here) help for this. It has two extra straps on the front and, having worn the dress for the day, I am now sure I won't keep them on here. Snip snip...

red and white stripy dress, dark red bow heels thrifted
white ankle socks two dollar shop. Best ankle socks ever. Srsly. Srsly!
vintage dress form

Problems in Dahlias Flowers

Dahlia buds are round before them open into flower and funnel shaped after they flower. It is also not possible to have a seed head without a flower preceding it. This means that the buds have formed flowers but that you have missed them. This is not so unusual, especially if the weather is either very wet or very dry, as the flowers can be very short-lived. The important thing is to cut off the seed heads as soon as possible to encourage more flowering buds.

There is a condition known as rhubarb gumming where the sticks excrete sticky resin (which is what attracts the flies). Cracks may also appear and the sticks may rot. The main reason for this is erratic water and nutrient supply. Rhubarb needs rich, damp soil, so make sure they have plenty of water and mulch thickly with manure or garden compost each winter after the leaves have died.

It's in the nature of the weeping pear, Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula', to become tangled - and there's nothing you can do to stop it. I suggest you enjoy it for what it is, rather than try to make it do something that is against all its natural inclinations.

Daffodil Hill Farm

Daffodil Hill farm may be just the right location for your next family outing. Located about an hour outside of Sacramento, Daffodil Hill is a 4 acre farm owned by the McLaughlin family.

Daffodil Hill is home to more than 300 named varieties of daffodils. It is estimated that there are more that 300,000 bulbs in the ground with an additional 6,000 bulbs planted each year. The McLaughlin family has owned the property since 1887 and continues to offer access free of charge to the public.

The flower farm is located at an elevation of about 3,000 feet in amongst the pine trees of Amador County. All types of flowers are located on the property as well as peafowl, pigeons, chickens, and rabbits. You will find rustic farm equipment scattered around the flower farm. There are also about two dozen picnic tables located on the property as well as plenty of room to lay down blankets for a picnic. Youth groups often setup a stand across the street and sell burgers, drinks, and other snacks.

Daffodill Hill is only open a few weeks per year. The flower farm opens when 25 percent of the flowers are in bloom and closes when only 25 percent remain. Last weekend was Daffodil Hill’s opening weekend. With no rain forecasted and highs in the low 70’s, next weekend will be another beautiful time at Daffodill Hill.

1970s playsuit

Another day, another scorcher here... over 30C! This weekend I found this 1970s playsuit at a local opp shop. Actually it took me two goes; I turned it down at first ("Oh, but I have a blue polka dot playsuit already!") only to go straight back and get it. And it was meant to be: on the return trip, I also found a perfect pair of red sailor shorts! More on those soon... But back to the playsuit. It is ridiculously small, but then that's good when it's this hot. I wore it with my new found '40s-esque platforms, and, with a flower in my hair, felt like myself. I've been listening to lots of late '60s early '70s rock and roll, and I kind of want to try my playsuit '70s roller girl – you know, head band, lolipop, perhaps socks – so maybe next time!

playsuit and platforms thrifted

Gardening Flowery Plants

It's so heartening to see signs of spring all around, after the long and cold winter. Flower buds are swelling on the forsythia and bridal-wreath spires; daffodils are ready to bloom in a few days and the Lenten roses, snowdrops and early crocuses have been in bloom a week or two on my south-facing hillside.

An entire lawn flowers blooming. They were a light purple, or lilac, color and look just like some I have blooming under a dogwood tree on a sunny slope. They're a variety of the very-early flowering (sometimes called winter flowering) crocuses, which are smaller than the usual "Dutch type", but have the advantage of blooming earlier and increasing better. The catalogs that specialize in bulbs will usually have several different colors of these earlier ones, as well as the usual kinds. The new catalogs will come out later this summer or in early fall, because spring-blooming bulbs need to be planted in the fall.

Plant crocus bulbs in the lawn, except for the deer; they'll eat the leaves and flower buds as soon as they come up, unless they're sprayed with a repellant. That job is much easier if they're in one bed, instead of scattered over a wide area. This year, sprayed them just twice and they've been left alone. Use the milk-and-water solution, one part milk to five parts water.

Collect many more of the snowdrops and daffodils because the deer never bother them. It's so satisfying to be able to put these bulbs anywhere we want them and never have to worry about spraying them, and save the space behind the fence for things they do eat.


The other plant blooming now is the Lenten rose (helleborus orientalis or hybridus). It's close kin to the Christmas rose, which has white flowers and blooms even earlier. Pink flowers were brought from Tennessee, who had bought an older home, where the Lenten roses had spread by seed.

They'll soon be replaced by new leaves, which will stay healthy and green through next winter. Of course they aren't actually roses (but who wants to go around saying helleborus); they are perennial plants that bloom just once a year, but those blooms will last several weeks, just when we need cheering up. They grow fine in a partly-shaded location and spread by seeds (slowly), but large plants can be divided in late summer by digging the whole thing up and carefully cutting apart the root system to leave at least three buds on each piece. Replant immediately in good soil with rotted humus or peat moss dug into it, and keep watered all fall, in dry spells.

It's not hard to have some outdoor flowers, at this time of year, by planting some that come up and bloom early, even in deer country. Just plant things they don't eat: snowdrops, daffodils and helleborus, soon to be followed by forsythia and bridal-wreath.

Cherry Blossom Blooming Started

Warm weather and abundant sunshine in Washington, D.C., will allow the celebrated cherry trees to blossom earlier than expected.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is from March 27 to April 11 and includes activities such as parades, dinners, fireworks, art displays, musical performances and a 10K race.

March 27 marks the 98th anniversary of when Japan gave Washington, D.C., 3,000 cherry blossom trees to celebrate the nations' growing friendship. This annual two-week event celebrates the beauty of springtime and companionship.

The buds on the cherry trees usually sprout in the early spring but the exact time of blossoming greatly depends on the weather.

This is when 70 percent of the blossoms are open. March 28 through April 9, the blooming period, occurs when 20 percent of the blossoms are open.

The peak date varies each year because it relies on favorable weather conditions. Due to a forecasted beautiful next few weeks in the nation's capital, this may be the year for an early peak date.

These weather conditions should set those trees into an early bloom and ensure a great spring festival.

cream and black booties

We had a dip in the temperatures, and some big rain clouds to boot (boom, boom) so it seemed a good time to road test my new booties. (Which, by the way, I am finding hard to say. It's just so cute. Like babies' shoes. Is shoe boots better?) Of course, Melbourne being what it is, the sun suddenly popped its head out and everything warmed up quite a lot. Still, I don't mind. I have a new found enthusiasm for another week or so of hot weather... and I'll share it soon!



Back to the booties... I wore them with a favourite black dress that I've had for years, which has pearls for buttons down the left side, and a knot tie up at the front. Red lips, red nails, red bag... and I'm done. I love my new booties!

black dress obus
black and cream booties target
red handbag vintage (late '50s/early '60s, the jury is out)

housekeeping I have had to add comment moderation due to horrible advert spammers. Thanks for understanding :)

Rosebud Flower Blooms in Space

This image shows AFGL 3193 what looks like a rosebud a small piece of a very complicated region of gas, dust, and stars in the constellation of Cepheus in the northern sky which is delivered by Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). This region has star formation, cold and hot dust and even a supernova remnant (called NGC 7822). This particular part seen by WISE shows a cluster of young stars called Berkeley 59 the stars colored blue to the right surrounded by the gas and dust from which they formed. This cluster is less than a million years old, and the massive, hot stars are blasting out radiation that is eating away at the cocoon surrounding them.

In the false-color image from WISE, red shows the coolest dust, blue and cyan warmer material, and green reveals long-chain organic molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. You can see how the PAHs appear to form around the rim of the nebula as the material there is compressed and warmed by the ultraviolet light and solar winds from the young stars. The filaments are testament to the forces tossed around as the stars go through their violent birth process. One of the stars in the cluster is a massive O5 star with dozens of times the mass of the Sun, and blasting out radiation at a rate 100,000 times that of the Sun!

Clematis Armandii Flowering Type

Clematis varieties are among some of the most prized twining climbers in the Bay Area. The diversity of foliage aside, there are 10 categories of flowers, everything from single and double forms to open and closed bell-shaped, even tubular and tulip-shaped.

Nearly all of these flowering types are deciduous. One notable exception is Clematis armandii, an evergreen, group one bloomer that offers a most persuasive set of credentials. Start with the uncharacteristic-for-a-clematis foliage, which features mostly trifoliate, large (to 6 inches), pointed, leathery leaves. Young leaves are a bronze color, then turn a shiny dark green as they mature. These handsome leaves form a verdant backdrop to the blooming show that arrives in early spring. And what a show indeed!

Once established, Clematis armandii blooms prolifically with intensely scented, saucer-shaped flowers that will knock your socks off. Blooming begins in early March and can continue into June. It makes you want to put a chair underneath the vine in spring, grab 10 books and say, "Call me when June arrives."

The most recognizable Clematis armandii is the white flowering species. These 2- to 3-inch-wide pure-white flowers really pop against the dark foliage, providing a timeless, elemental display. 'Snowdrift' is an excellent cultivar, its flowers said to smell like honey and almonds. Pink lovers should look for Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom' (pictured), a lovely blush-pink flower, or 'Hendersonii Rubra,' with deep pinks backing white flowers.

Clematis armandii makes a great coverage vine as it will eventually reach 20 feet in height and spread to 10 feet. You can grow it up the side of a house (without worrying that it will destroy your stucco, unlike ivy), along a fence or over a strong arbor. Given its intoxicating scent, you'll want to keep it within reach of foot traffic. It's also popular with bees.

Did you know?
Clematis armandii is named in honor of a French missionary, Pere Armand David (1826-1900). In England, Ernest Wilson introduced the vine into cultivation in 1900. This species is native to China.

10 Best Flowering Shrubs

Hardy shrubs have declined in popularity in recent years, partly because of our love of herbaceous perennials, which are considered, rightly but rather narrowly, to provide swifter effect in the garden.Herbaceous perennials are all very fine (and few gardens feel quite right without them) but they do not make shrubs redundant, since the latter are generally better at providing structure and height and color, flower and scent in spring before herbaceous perennials hit their stride.

And, although well-known shrubs such as Spiraea 'Arguta’ and Viburnum opulus have a case to be included here; there are masses of less widely planted shrubs begging to show their worth.

1. Cercis chinensis 'Avondale’, a form of the Chinese redbud, makes a large shrub or small tree, with masses of purple-pink pea flowers on the bare shoots in late March and April. The leaves then unfurl; they are very big, heart-shaped, pale green in colour and turn yellow in autumn. This plant is hardy, happiest in full sun or partial shade, and likes a fertile, moist but well-drained soil.
2. Halesia carolina is one of the choicest of all spring shrubs (or small trees), having adorable, nodding, pure white snowdrop flowers in late spring, once the plant has a few years on the clock. These are ¾in long, and hang in clusters of three or five on short stalks. These flowers turn into 2in-long, pear-shaped fruit with four wings and a tail. When fully ripe, these are brown, chiming well with the leaves, which yellow in autumn.
3. Chaenomeles x superba 'Jet Trail’ is an unusual ornamental quince with a dwarf spreading habit, so it can be used for ground cover, provided the soil is cleared of perennial weeds. The semi-double white flowers appear through March and April, before and after the leaves unfurl. Chaenomeles like a sunny spot, but are not particuularly fussy about soil pH or constitution, as long as there’s good drainage.
4. Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride’ is another hardy shrub, with great garden presence, because the startlingly white flowers are quite large and thickly carried in 4in-long racemes at the end of short sideshoots. The branches tend to weep, and I have seen it grown on a sloping bank near water. Immediately after flowering, remove flowered shoots and thin out the others.
5. If you garden on an acid soil, Fothergilla major is almost a must, since it has very striking, scented, petal-less, creamy white flower heads, which are made up solely of stamens. These are carried in spring on a multi-stemmed, medium-sized shrub.
6. Stachyurus praecox, from Japan, is a large, spreading, deciduous shrub, with slender, pointed, oval leaves, which are preceded by long spikes or catkins of pale yellow, bell flowers. Leaves colour in autumn. Stachyurus praecox is hardy, although early flowers can be damaged by hard frosts. The shrub needs shelter from cold winds, so does well in a protected shrub border or woodland area, but can also be trained against a wall.
7. Acradenia frankliniae is an evergreen shrub from Tasmania, where it is called whitey wood. This also has opposite leaves, composed of three long, glossy, green leaflets, coarsely toothed on the margins. Small white flowers appear in late April and May in terminal clusters. This medium-sized shrub likes fertile, damp, but well-drained neutral or acid soil in partial shade, where it won’t be buffeted by winds.
8. Ribes odoratum or buffalo currant is hardy, not fussy about soils or aspect, healthy and easy to grow. The clove-scented, five-petalled flowers are golden-yellow and occur in clusters; they appear in April and May. The leaves, similar to a gooseberry, turn dark red and purple in autumn.
9. Berberis valdiviana, it looks like something different in the berberis line, from Chile, makes a tall (6ft-10ft) evergreen shrub. It does not spread sideways too much and the glossy green leaves set off the long, saffron golden racemes of flowers in spring. Although there are a few spines on the shoots (which are avoidable), the large leathery leaves are pretty well spineless.
10. Abeliophyllum distichum is a Korean relation of the common golden-flowered forsythia, but less beefy. It also flowers a little earlier, especially if trained against a warm wall, which is where it thrives best. Before February is out, and before the oval, opposite leaves have appeared, the creamy white, four-petalled flowers, with their golden centers, will be scenting the air. (There is a pale-pink variation, Roseum Group).

black flowers

It's Autumn. It's really hot. I am ready for darker things. Colder days.







I've been cleaning out my wardrobe, and had a little helper. Thanks, Babycat!

black floral dress thrifted
shoes vintage nos

Do You Collect Snowdrops In Flower?

To those who love and collect snowdrops, little distinctions make these bulbs worth the hunt.

"You start looking at them a little closer, and you get stuck on these tiny, minute differences, and it all starts making sense and the biggest excitement about snowdrops is that they start blooming now."

Something happens in the last days of winter, as the little white flowers pop through snow, signaling spring before the litany of tulips and daffodils steal the show. The snowdrop so small, you have to bend down and look holds its own in the garden because of its lively appearance when everything else looks dead. Lately, it has earned something of a cult following among hard core gardeners and plant collectors in the United States, following its popularity in England, where tour buses trek out to snowdrop fields in February. Hundreds of new varieties have been discovered in recent years, which are known in the gardening world as galanthophiles, named after the snowdrop's Latin name, Galanthus.

"The snowdrop crazies are crazy, and they love the smallest difference and since I'm one of them, I'm aware it's not a normal preoccupation."

Each year, Jonathan Shaw, a Sandwich, Mass., collector who boasts more than 100 different snowdrop varieties, hosts a "Snowdrop Tea" where he auctions off some rare varieties, and gives away more common ones for attendees to take home. Mr. Shaw estimates he has roughly 8,000 snowdrops currently in bloom, mainly along paths around his garden.

While many flower bulbs are crossed to produce hybrids of every possible shape, color and size, the vast majority of snowdrop varieties are simply found in nature, rather than bred in greenhouses. Two varieties might cross in someone's backyard, creating seedlings with different characteristics from their parents. This kind of serendipity adds to its allure.

"In the last 10 years, there are at least 1,000, if not 1,500, new names in circulation of snowdrops. Because of the mania, everyone is finding new things and putting names on them, whether they deserve them or not,"

Trade restrictions on snowdrops mean American collectors can't freely purchase varieties sold in overseas catalogs and nurseries. In 1990, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora listed snowdrops as vulnerable in their wild habitats of Turkey, requiring protection from excessive collecting. That is why imports and exports of snowdrops require more permits than many other plants.