Rick
It was a desperately long winter here with some snow cover most of the time late December through early March. The first snowdrops didn't appear until 15 March and it took more than a week for the widespread yellowing to dissapate. Below is a shot of nivalis 'Lowick' on the 22 March (one of the later appearances) and still with erratic yellowing. Even elwesii 'Rosemary Burnham' flowered with all green markings in yellow. A week later they were all normal and just in the nick of time as another snowfall ocurred at the month's end and lasted a few days.
Now to your friend's spectacular yellow elwesii should we still be trembling with anticipation?
johnw - +13c, fog, gloom, showers.