As it’s now past the ides of January, I’ve recently been noticing quite a lot of snowdrops – in my Instagram feed. While it is possible to find them in my home area of northwest Oregon, it is really my friends in the United Kingdom who are best attuned to their appearance each year. Indeed, the passion of UK naturalists and gardeners for these admittedly charming little plants – at least amongst those I know – well justifies the existence of the word galanthophile: an enthusiastic collector and identifier of snowdrop (Galanthus).
Which is why it isn’t at all surprising that a new book about snowdrops, A Passion for Snowdrops; A Personal Perspective by George G. Brownlee, is published by Whittles, the Scotland based independent publisher known for their fine selection of natural history titles.
Focusing on the cultivation of snowdrops (despite their proliferation, as well as the widespread level of fondness for them, in the British Isles, the plant isn’t actually thought to be native there), Prof. Brownlee’s book presents their history, life cycle, and his own experiences growing them, as well as a fascinating catalog of their varieties that’s sure to be as accessible to the newcomer as it is captivating to the experienced enthusiast. Needless to state, the book is lavishly illustrated with full color photographs that well depict just why so many find these plants so enchanting.
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