October and November have been so busy, I had to go back to look at my spring pictures to see aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall those bulbs in bloom. Just to remind myself that it’s worthwhile planting bulbs now, despite the fact that the weather is getting grim and life is unusually hectic.

In spring, when my appetite was biggest, I’d ordered 300 snowdrops. Three. Hundred.  Of those, 200 are single, tall Galanthus elwesii and 100 are double Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno.’ Like little white roses, with wings.

Having seen snowdrops once carpeting a front garden in Riverdale, I knew that’s what I wanted. After winter in Toronto, seeing snowdrops in February, March or April is like the emergence of hope and joy. A friend wanted to take 10 of the 300 off my hands.

I convinced her she needed 50. She really did.

Along with 50 white squills (Scilla siberica ‘Alba’), that’s 300 bulbs in the ground so far. Plus, I gifted some to a neighbour who had never planted bulbs before. Share the joy, I say.

Just 60 left to go. Ten of them are crown imperials (Fritillaria imperialis) whose skunky pong in my front room is reminding me it’s planting time.

Next spring, I’ll thank them for it.