It happens every few years, the snow doesn't come, the ground doesn't freeze, and the Galanthus elwesii, the giant snowdrop, begins to bloom early. It has been unusually warm recently, with highs in the 40sF, with occasional days of highs in the 20sF. Up and down, flirting with the melting/freezing point goes the thermometer, confusing the poor plants. But Galanthus don't mind. They do what they always do, only now, there's no snow to conceal buds transforming to blooms. Any day now...