NEN Gallery

This species has a small leaf-like protective cover to the tip of the flowering stem. This allows the snowdrop flower to force its way up through the snow or earth. It provides an early feast for bees, which in turn pollinate its flowers. Clumps of snowdrops are found in woods and hedgerows throughout Britain. It has long bluish green leaves. Each stem bears a single drooping flower head consisting of 3 sepals which are longer than the plant's three green tipped petals. It flowers January to March. This picture was taken early February 2006, near Bedford. The flowers are now fully open.