Galanthus 'Wendy's Gold' - Snowdrop

Galanthus is taken from the Greek words for milk; gala and flower; anthus. Legend has it that the first snowdrops were created from Eve's teardrops. After eating the forbidden fruit, God punished Adam and Eve by banishing them from the Garden of Eden. They were cast out into a barren, cold land where the ground was stony and hard. There were no trees or flowers and Eve couldn't hold back the tears. God had sent an angel to guard them and he blessed each tear as it fell. One by one they were transformed into a perfect tear shaped white flower. The guardian angel promised that each year the snowdrops would return to bring the promise of spring after the long cold winter to fill hearts with joy and hope.

Believed to have been introduced by monks in England in the 15th century as always found growing wild near sites of ancient monasteries and gardens. The root is held to be a good dressing for a cut or wound but would have been grown in monasteries for association with Candlemas Day and the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin. It was then that the image of the Virgin was removed from the altar and snowdrops strewn over the vacant place - an emblem of purity.