And thus the snowdrop, like the bow That spans the cloudy sky, Became a symbol, whence, we know That brighter days are nigh. – Anonymous While landscapes shed off winter’s heavy cloak of gloom and grey, the winter-blooming bells of snowdrops begin to ring in spring. These fair and yet hardy maidens of February emerge through snow using their strong leaves, giving them the French name Perce-Neige (meaning “pierce snow”).