In March, a couple of years ago, I started noticing patches of tiny blue flowers along the roads of older neighbourhoods.  Here were flowers flourishing in areas that hadn’t been manicured for a very long time.

I soon realized these blooming meadows are the naturalized dreams of gardeners past. I’m charmed by that romance.

These hardy bloomers are Glory of Snow, or, if you like unpronounceable names: Chionodoxa. Try to say that easily the first time around! 🙂

Glory of Snow originated in Turkey & Greece – along the Mediterranean.  I’ve heard southern Vancouver Island compared to a Mediterranean rain forest, so it makes sense these plants survive well here.  What surprises me more is that they’re hardy to zone 4!  They can withstand a whole lot more cold. Do these grow in your neck of the woods??

Aside from naturalizing well, these plants are also valuable to me because they’re:

• winter blooming
• drought tolerant 
• low maintenance

Once planted, just leave them to their own devices.  How great is that?  I’ve even seen them surviving in shallow crevices of rocky outcroppings.

They seem perfectly happy in lawns, too, although I’ll bet they do better if the grass isn’t cut until late April when they’re done for the season.  That would mean it’s more of a meadow than a lawn.  C wouldn’t go for that.  He likes lush but trim.  That’s why I’ve added Glory of Snow as under-story plantings in our shrub border instead.

The best patch I’ve ever come across is around Dunlop House Restaurant, a heritage building on the grounds of Camosun College, and their Hospitality Management Program facility.  C’s mum took us there for supper the other night.  The meal was lovely, and the meadow: spectacular!

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© SVSeekins and Garden Variety Life, 2013

P.S. Here are some other meadow faves:

• • • Meadow Blooms 1 – Crocus
    • Meadow Blooms 1.2 – Summit Park Crocus
    • Meadow Blooms 3 – English daisy
    • Meadow Blooms 4 – Fawn Lily
    • Meadow Blooms 5 – Camas
    • Meadow Blooms 6 – Snowdrops
    • Meadow Blooms 7 – Wild Violets
    • Meadow Blooms 8 – January Meadow
    • Meadow Blooms 9 – Daffodil Meadow
    • Meadow Blooms 10 – July Meadow
    • Meadow Blooms 11 – Winter Aconite