Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’
Snowdrops are starting early this year and in several of the shady spots in the garden, they’re not only emerging, their new green shoots bursting through the ground, but also showing their first sprinkling of white flowers.
First up is galanthus ‘Atkinsii’. Though there are other smaller colonies in different parts of the garden, it makes its presence felt most obviously in the long bed underneath the oak fence where, at this time of year, it’s the most obvious resident.
Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’ never sets seed but it spreads rapidly. It’s a most welcome snowdrop. It arrives early, sometimes even before the wildings, and sometimes through snow. It’s large, substantial but decidedly elegant with long, gently flared petals and broad, glaucous leaves. Although it will colonise quickly of its own volition, if you’ve exciting plans for it, you can dig it up as it fades, knock the soil from the bulbs and replant separately a few inches apart and 10-15cm (4-6in) deep.
Give each bulb a ration of good humusy compost, preferably mixed with leaf mould. Vary distances between the bulbs to ensure a random, natural look. Within a short space of time, you can create big drifts. It always surprises me to see gardening pundits ‘dividing’ snowdrops by pulling apart a huge clump into two pieces and replanting them in two clumps.
When you divide snowdrops, it’s worth taking time and care to plant each one separately – the best implement is a cabbage trowel with a long, deep blade. Anyway, that won’t be done until June or so.
Our first snowdrops are open here. Even if you’re totally pre-occupied walking up the garden, the moment you see them they make you feel happy. They remind you of the year to come and put a keen edge on its anticipation.