:: leucojum ::

ah, the blessing of knowledge and of learning...I thought that these adorable harbingers of Spring were...snowdrops...

...but, NO! They are not. 

I found out this morning that these wee blissful bells are indeed known as 'snowflakes', snowbells, dewdrops, St.Agnes' flowers or Loddon Lilies...

...imagine going nearly 50 years believing these to be snowdrops all that time!!!!!

...snowdrops are similar - the difference is their teardrop-shaped petals are quite separate and are splayed out into a drooping shape, whereas the snowflake or snowbell has the form, of, well...a bell...you see?
...the name comes from the Greek, leukos - 'white' and ion - 'violet'...

...anyway, it was an absolute delight to come across the first official generous clump of these ivory and lime lovelies, riverside, yesterday morning...almost late for school...!