Snowdrops

Whilst I wouldn’t describe myself as a galanthophile, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Sue Goodwill’s garden, Primrose Bank Nursery Dauby Lane, Kexby, York, United Kingdom, YO41 5LH which I have passed many times but never visited.

The stroll around the garden revealed about 90 different species, different shapes and colours, all named. The shepherd’s hut with its wood burning stove was a welcome seating area on a cold day.

I listened to a talk by Anne Wright of Dryad Nursery (online sales only) about the variety Snowdrops which flower each month from January to April. We saw the best way to display Snowdrops and plants that complement them such as Cyclamen coum, Hellebores, evergreen Ferns and the evergreen Euphorbia rubra. We learnt how to cross pollinate two Snowdrops and grow a new cultivar from the seed, but that is for patient gardeners. It is not necessary to register new Snowdrops, so you can name your new ones.

I didn’t purchase any Snowdrops (some were for sale at £90 each!) but Primrose Bank Nursery grows and sells interesting, good value perennials and I chose a Corydalis Blue Heron and a Salvia jamensis Amethyst Lips and I shall definitely return later in the year.

Coincidentally, I am also reading A.D Miller’s novel entitled Snowdrops, a psychological drama set in Moscow.

In the preface, a definition of Snowdrop is given as:

1. An early-flowering bulbous plant, having a white pendent flower.

2. Moscow slang. A corpse that lies buried or hidden in the winter snows, emerging only in the thaw.

Any thoughts on Snowdrops?