The snowdrop season is upon us; indeed it has been lurking in the wings for some time. The Royal Horticultural Society sent me this photograph of snowdrops in bloom at Rosemoor in Devon around Christmastime, I seem to recall, and the January edition of The Garden, the RHS journal, has Silvertreedaze writing on the subject.Although you now find snowdrops in the wild, they are not technically British native flowers. They've been here at least since the 18th century, however, and many people believe they were introduced during the Middle Ages. Whatever their origins, they are now widely naturalised, popping up in woodlands and churchyards all over the British Isles.
I like snowdrops, but I'm not obsessive about them. My favourite is the Turkish Galanthus elwesii, for the fairly crude reason that they are big - up to 30cm (1ft) tall. I don't like growing things I can't see without my varifocals. As for all those cultivars that are yellow, or green, or crinkly, or deformed in some way, my overwhelming reaction is ... why?
Some people are fanatical about them, I know - and you can bet anything you like that the RHS Plant and Design Show in London on 14-15 February will be full of galanthophiles, pushing and shoving to get at the choicest new varieties.
For a lot of people, however, including me, snowdrops are not about growing flowers, but seeing them. I have the same reaction to bluebell woods in May, or primroses in early spring - I get a tremendous thrill when I see plants happily doing (if you'll forgive the cliche) what comes naturally.
I love the idea of snowdrop days and bluebell walks, because it is the perfect excuse to get out into a more natural landscape. Deciduous woodland is fast becoming an endangered commodity here in the UK, so anything that helps people appreciate it is fine by me. (OK, a lot of those snowdrop bulbs in NGS gardens that open at this time of year have been planted by some dedicated owner, but the effect is of a wild, woodland garden.)
Perhaps we all have some primeval need to go out and mark the passing of the seasons in this way. Perhaps there is some primeval need just to go into the woods from time to time. Whatever it is, I'm going to enjoy going on my snowdrop outing.
I don't care if what I'm looking at is 'Magnet' or G. Atkinsii, or G. plicatus or G. caucasicus or whatever. So long as I see a sea of white flowers and smell fresh air, I'll be quite happy.
12 comments:
A snowdrop day and a bluebell walk both sound like good outings. have fun. gailxo
Hi Victoria, nice post about snowdrops! I like them a lot weather they are growing in the garden or in the woods. First of all because they are usually white and I love all white blooms, but also, I think, because they indicate that spring is coming, even though it is still officially winter when they bloom. I haven't seen them here in Southern California and have to say I miss them badly!
Christina
Rebellion! Be careful or the gardening cognoscenti will cry blasphemy and kick you out of the yellow book.
I adore snowdrops, - but to me that means plain carpets of singles or doubles. I Agree, no twisted green and yellow need to be spotted on my walks to make me love them.
A beautiful photo. I love drifts of snowdrops.
This is sneaking ANOTHER snowdrop article under the radar!! Cheating.
XXXXX
Yes, there is nothing to beat a carpet of snow drops, or a carpet of bluebells in the woodlands where I walk.
Which reminds me, perhaps I should walk up there and see if the snowdrops are out yet - as the twelve I have in my garden are now flowering.
wonderful bluebell on top of Malverns but I dont think there are any big plantings of snowdrops. I dont understand glanthophiles and having been to visit the garden of Jon Sales last year (with VP) I think it is fair to say we were even more perplexed by it all
hoping to get to Painswick Rocco Garden to see the snowdrop display and a change of scenery in a couple of weeks
PS you are writing lots of posts at the moment!
Gail: I'm sure we will. I'm meeting up with Michelle and Zoe xx
OrganicGD: Yes, it's nice to think spring might finally arrive sometime. Although this has been quite a good January here in London - quite mild, and it seems to have whizzed past!
Susan: Lol!
Claire: I saw a few in flower the day we were at Wisley and I remember thinking then that they were pretty indistinguishable from a distance!
Why I garden: Thank you - but the credit for the photo should really go to the RHS
Anne: Sorry, sorry! I was just trying to do a snowdrop post that didn't witter on about 200 varieties, blah blah blah.
Karen: I don't know what's happened to my snowdrops - I think they find my garden too dry. Either that, or I accidentally dug them up while rejigging the lawn (highly likely).
PG: I had a couple of weeks - well, a month, I think - over Christmas when I didn't write anything. Was busy with family/work etc. So I'm trying to make up for it. I find writing quite relaxing, so it's a way of making time for myself. Enjoy your trip to Painswick!
Beautiful photo...
I agree with you, Victoria. The cossetting of choice varieties misses the natural pleasure of viewing them en mass. And yet I guess it is a sort of treasure hunt that the fanatics enjoy... Like looking for a four-leaf clover in a field full of Trifolium.
I only wish we had such walks in the US! Enjoy it for me.
Same sentiments here Victoria. I do love snowdrops but in large drifts and in a woodland setting. Or at least a big pot full of them. Not as individual plants in pots and displayed in rows to highlight the subtle difference between them...
I think the euphoria was bought about by a plant that looks good in a time of the year when most others don't. Not much competition there in the flower beauty department especially in February!
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