Snowdrop events 2015

[MargaretB]

Our Daughter and her husband, who share their days between The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, have generously given me a Christmas present of an escorted trip to a snowdrop event of my choice.  What should I choose?  I  can manage the dates of 8 February for Gerard Oud's event at Andijk, 19 to 21 February for De Boschhoeve , or 28 February and 1 March for Oirlicher Blumengarten.  The snowdrops in my own garden are flowering very early this winter and , if that is the case throughout Europe, are the flowers likely to be finished in Oirlicher by 1 March?  I also have a weakness for hellebores, does anyone know if hellebore growers will be at any of the events?

I obviously want to make the most of my trip and the £500 spending money that goes with it.  Sadly I just made that last bit up!

A Happy New Year to all.

[Brian Ellis]

I obviously want to make the most of my trip and the £500 spending money that goes with it.  Sadly I just made that last bit up!

...and that's going to stop you Margaret? 

[Alan_b]

This page on the Monksilver Nursery web site includes many of the 2015 snowdrop events:
http://www.monksilvernursery.co.uk/6.html
Most of the events will have already been mentioned in this thread but there might be one or two we have missed.

[emma T]

That's a very helpful list 

[Beatrice]

There is also a snowdrop-event on 14th February in the Arboretum of Kalmthout (near Antwerp) with a snowdrop-show, a snowdrop-sale and  a lecture at 14 h.
You can at the same time  enjoy the beautiful Hamamelis and several other winter flowering shrubs and plants . A lot of these are offered for sale including a large selection of Hellebores. (www.arboretumkalmthout.be) [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ]

[Maggi Young]

 Has this been mentioned before ?
http://www.eastonwalledgardens.co.uk/
Snowdrop Week
14th-22nd February daily 11.00 -4.00

"Wrap up warm for a winter walk full of snowdrops and winter flowers. Unusual snowdrops are shown in the coach house where you can hear free talks from plantswoman and galanthophile Jackie Murray. Enjoy delicious teas and homemade light lunches n the tearoom and follow the amazing story of these ancient gardens in the history room. Snowdrops, hellebores and other winter plants for sale in the shop."

Easton Walled Gardens
Easton
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG33 5AP

[Carolyn Walker]

Here is an American snowdrop event so everyone in the US doesn't feel left out.  There will be a Snowdrop Study Day on Friday, March 20, details to follow:

Attention Snow Drop Tea Reservations Open Tomorrow, January, 7, 2015. See Press Release below for details.

Information/Press release:
SNOWDROP TEA – Wednesday, March 18 & Thursday, March 19, 2015

You are invited to a special spring Snowdrop Tea, 2 pm to approximately 4 pm, at the historic home of Eugenie and Jonathan Shaw, Sandwich Village, MA. Their home, the 1857 Jarves House, is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Tea, which celebrates the first flower of spring, will begin at 2 pm with a tour of the landscaped grounds which feature drifts of thousands of snowdrops, one of largest and most extensive collections of snowdrops in the United States, established by Jonathan Shaw over the last 45 years. In addition to the tour, detailed photographs of rare & beautiful snowdrops in the collection, some of which bloom as early as December, will be continuously on video display. Accompanying the Tea is a delicious abundance of American and Norwegian desserts, prepared by Eugenie Shaw. The Tea will conclude with an auction of rare spring bulbs and snowdrops. Each participant attending the Tea will receive a gift of a snowdrop in bloom for his or her own garden or as gift for a friend. All participant fees and auction proceeds will entirely benefit the endowment of the Shirley G. Cross Wildflower Garden of the Thornton W. Burgess Society, Cape Cod’s nationally-known non-profit whose name honors the famous 20th century children’s author and environmentalist. The Wildflower Garden was the creation of Dr. Shirley Cross, one of the first women botanists to earn a Harvard PhD. This Snowdrop Tea was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal in March 2010. Seating is limited to 25 persons on each of two days: Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19, 2015.
Admission is $30.00 per person. Call 508-888-6870 (Thornton W. Burgess Society) for reservations.

[Carolyn Walker]

Here are the details of the American Snowdrop Study Day on March 20 organized by forum member Rick Goodenough for the Facebook group he started:

Snowdrops in American Gardens is pleased to announce the launch our first Snowdrop Study Day March, 20, 2015. A formal Snowdrop Tea on Cape Cod is a grand event that will serve Study Day participants as an optional kickoff festivity to be held the afternoon prior to the Study Day. The Tea requires a separate registration, and it will be held on Thursday afternoon at the historic home of Jonathan and Eugenie Shaw in the quaint village of Sandwich. The following morning, the Study Day will begin at 9:00AM at the Shaw home.

What is a Study Day, you may ask?

Shaw Snowdrop Tour - Jonathan will give our participants a guided tour of the garden which boasts of over 120 named snowdrops, and drifts in the tens of thousands of nivalis, flore pleno, and elwesii.

Goodenough Snowdrop Garden - Following the Shaw tour we’ll regroup in Marshfield, MA at Rick Goodenough’s home.

Lunch - We’ll have a tour of his new snowdrop plantings and will enjoy a hot soup and salad lunch.

Snowdrop Intel - Two lecture sessions are planned, one focusing on snowdrop basics with book review highlights and second on gardening with drops and best companion plantings. There will also be updates on other up to the minute happenings on snowdrop access this side of the pond.

Cream Tea - will be served mid-afternoon with more talk of snowdrops served up with sticky toffee pudding and Devon Clotted Cream.

Snowdrop Loot - There will be door prizes, auctions and bulbs will be flying like monkeys. All participants will leave with potted snowdrops and likely quite a bit more snowdrop loot. There will be time for favorite snowdrop stories, trading lists, sources and haunts.

Optional Dinner - following the event, an optional dinner is planned just off the ocean in Marshfield for those who still need more snowdrop talk.

Registration - for the Study Day is $15 per participant and is limited to the first 15 completed registrations. Registration will open beginning Monday, January 12, 2015. Forms will be posted here on that date.

The Study Day is shaping up to be a wonderful event of the late Winter Season that is guaranteed to whet your appetite for snowdrops and energize you for the 2015 gardening season. More details to come

[chasw]

Just through the letterbox a nice letter confirming us for Shaftesbury   

[RichardW]

Will be missing it this year, had forgotten I had already committed to something else, hope it's another great success.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Has anyone mentioned the Snowdrop Saturday at Foxgrove? 14th February. www.foxgroveplants.co.uk

[Maggi Young]

Early Events 2015 at the Chelsea Physic Garden

"The Garden’s unique living collection provides inspiration for a variety of walks, talks and workshops throughout the year, including discovering the art of botanical painting, learning about the history and origins of perfumes and the art of chocolate making.  The World Woodland Garden will be opening in April, and to mark this new area of the Garden the July lecture series will focus on the theme of trees. "
 
Snowdrop Days (free unless specified)
 
Sensational snowdrops - Joe Sharman
Saturday 31 January, 10.30am – 12pm & 2-3.30pm
A talk by the plantsman of Monksilver Nursery 
 
Galanthus galore - John Grimshaw
Sunday 1 February, 2-3.30pm
An illustrated talk from the author of ‘Snowdrops, A monograph of cultivated galanthus’
 
Surviving winter - Michael Holland, Head of Education and Tom Wells, Gardener 
Monday 2 February, 11am-12pm & 2-3pm
A Garden tour on winter survival strategies in nature
 
A plant lover’s guide to snowdrops - Naomi Slade
Tuesday 3 February, 2-3pm
Illustrated talk, planting demonstration and a book signing
 
Painting snowdrops & other winter gems - Lucy Smith
Wednesday 4 February, 9.30am – 4pm, £105
Botanical watercolour painting including one-to-one instruction
 
Best in snow tour - Nick Bailey, Head Gardener
Thursday 5 and Sunday 8 February, 11am & 2pm
Highlights from a winter garden

chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

 

Chelsea Physic Garden

66 Royal Hospital Road

London SW3 4HS

[Mavers]

I'll look out for you at Shaftesbury Chas..

Really looking forward to this event.

[chasw]

Yes Mike will try not to take a tumble in the park this year

[Maggi Young]

Hanwell Observatory ‏:     Stars & Snowdrops 2015 will be on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February
http://www.hanwellobservatory.org.uk/stars-and-snowdrops
" Hanwell Castle, near Banbury, Oxfordshire

Held on the second full weekend in February every year

Saturday 14 February 2015 from noon - 5.00 pm
Sunday 15 February 2015 from 10:30 am - 5.00 pm

Adults: £2.50, Under 18s: £1.00, Under 5s: free

Teas: £2.00

Stout footwear is essential and, we regret, no dogs allowed except guide dogs.  "