Snowdrops signal an end to winter

Surely one of the best signs that winter is almost over is the sight of snowdrops pushing up through cold, dark earth and dead leaves. Whether it’s a single, brave flower standing alone that catches your eye, or great swathing clumps of white; the sight of the first snowdrop is a key moment in the calendar.

There are autumn flowering varieties that can be seen from late October, but somehow they seem to lack the ‘ta-dah’ impact of those that flower optimistically after the shortest day. Snowdrops persevere through the worst of weather and although they appear delicate they manage to shrug off winter storms and continue flowering for long enough to be a good value plant in any garden. If the sight of snowdrops makes you want to plant some, then wait a few weeks as now isn’t the time to buy them and they are usually purchased ‘in the green’ when they have just finished flowering.

Snowdrops are native to Asia, not the UK, although given that Shakespeare would have seen them they have been around long enough to earn a place in our hearts. They’ve certainly won over the growing band of enthusiasts, known as ‘galanthophiles’ who travel around the countryside and gardens in February, looking for new and unusual varieties. And there are plenty of varieties for galanthophiles to spot. According to Matt Bishop, a snowdrop expert who sells rare and unusual varieties and is a former head gardener at The Garden House, there are in the region of 2000 different cultivars!  You don’t have to be an expert to appreciate them. Once you start looking more closely you will see plenty of variation. Favourites with visitors at The Garden House include Galanthus plicatus ‘Wendy’s Gold’ which has cunningly replaced the green stem and ovaries with yellow, and Galanthus nivalis ‘S.Arnott’ which is almost completely green inside the inner petals.

Every weekend in February

Snowdrops and early spring at The Garden House

Calling all snowdrop enthusiasts and garden visitors… the ten-acre garden will be opening every weekend in February and is home to a collection of snowdrops in formal and informal planting with many unusual varieties, as well as early spring bulbs and winter colour. Adult admission is just £5.50 (gift-aided) or £5 standard. Children and Friends of The Garden House enjoy free entry. The tea rooms will also be serving our winter warmer menu.

Saturdays and Sundays in February from 11:00am – 3:00pm at The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton