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Stand by your diaries, it’s snowdrop season again
But galanthophiles are not the only ones who could be getting out and about over the next few months, says Pip Sloan
New year means one thing for restless green fingers – snowdrop season. Here are a few events to get your galanthophile senses tingling, plus other horticultural happenings taking place in or at gardens all over the country.
UNTIL JANUARY 31 WELLY WALKS, CORNWALL
January can be bleak, but the Lost Gardens of Heligan are attempting to turn this around with their month of “welly walks” aimed at families. Different activities are highlighted around the route, including favourite puddles and streams to splash through – wellies are a must.
JANUARY 13 MELBOURNE HALL OPEN DAY, DERBYSHIRE
The festivities of December are over, but there’s time to sneak in one more mince pie. Melbourne House is offering just that, along with mulled wine and live music, as you are guided around the 18th-century property, Don’t miss the alpacas and miniature horses in the paddock either. Tickets £10 adults, children free.
JANUARY 26 SNOWDROP SALE, MIDDLESEX
One of the highlights of the galanthophile’s calendar is the “ultimate snowdrop sale” at
Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield. A number of specialist nurseries will be exhibiting the rare and unusual, with prices ranging from £5 to £1,000. From 10:30am to noon (gates open 8:30am – arrive early).
SNOWDROP WEEKEND, WARWICKSHIRE
More snowdrops, this time in the Victorian grounds of Hill Close Gardens, a collection of pleasure gardens once used by townsfolk to escape the bustle, and now allotments. Some 130 different varieties of snowdrop will be on display, including the local ‘Warwickshire Gemini’.
Bulbs for sale, tea room open. Entry £4.50 adults, £1 children.
FEBRUARY 2 – MARCH 3 SNOWDROP WALKS, CHESHIRE
One for Repton fans, Rode Hall and Gardens is a spectacular location to view snowdrops, with more than 70 varieties on display over the mile-long walk. Meander through the white carpets in the Old Wood and Wild Garden and see the hall’s walled kitchen garden, which leads to the courtyard kitchen for refreshments. Bulbs for sale; farmers’ market on Feb 2 and March 2. Entry £5 adults, £2 children, under-fives free.
FEBRUARY 9 – MARCH 10 COLOMBIAN ORCHID EXHIBITION, LONDON
As lovely as snowdrops are in winter, if your horticultural leanings are to the colourful, this year Kew’s orchid festival (far left) celebrates the world’s most biodiverse country through a spectacular display in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Alongside 4,270 vibrant varieties of Colombian orchids, visitors will walk through a rainforest brimming with butterflies, toucans and a life-size tiger. Entry £18.
OPEN GARDEN, SUSSEX
The garden at Sandhill Farm House (main photo) is open for the National Garden Scheme annual snowdrop festival and promises a range of rare and interesting varieties on display and to buy, along with other earlyflowering spring bulbs. Tickets on the day are £5 for adults, children free. Visit ngs.org.uk for details of all 92 open gardens in the festival. collection of snowdrops every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Feb 15. Grab your hat and scarf and meet at the John Hope Gateway at 11am. Entry £6.
SNOWDROP SENSATION, KENT
Great Comp Garden opens its doors early to host Snowdrop Sensation day. It begins with a sale of rare bulbs, but the highlight will be horticulturist Val Bourne’s talk about famous galanthophiles and the snowdrops associated with them. Normal garden admission applies, 10am-noon, buy tickets to the 11:30am talk online for £8.
SNOWDROP TOURS, ESSEX
The Beth Chatto Gardens are home to a great variety of snowdrops. If you want to find out more about the history of the flower, or get advice on dividing and planting, this is one for you. Join garden director David Ward for a guided walk and pick his brain on all things snowdrop-related. Tickets £15, or £12 for Friends of the Garden.
TALK: ‘THE LAND WHERE LEMONS GROW’, OXFORD
Try Oxford Botanic Garden for something different – author Helena Attlee will be giving a talk on her extraordinary journeys through Italy to uncover the history of citrus fruits. She will be delving into their curious past, from the origins of the Mafia among citrus groves to meeting Orthodox Jewish citron merchants in Calabria. Tickets £15 online.