Snowdrop events 2015

[Alan_b]

I suspect snowdrops will figure more and more in years to come in our garden.

If you want to stay ahead of the trend I would also look to fancy forms of Eranthis, Arum italicum and anything else of that sort that adds interest to the winter garden.

When I visited Tims garden a few years ago I was very impressed with a snowdrop he grows as "Galanthus caucasicus late form ex Kath Dryden".  In modern parlance that would be "Galanthus elwesii Hiemalis Group late form ex Kath Dryden".  It flowers around the end of the year and has very long leaves and huge bulbs.  Tim, if the great and the good of the snowdrop world are passing through your garden, maybe they can give that one a proper name (like "Kath Dryden's Late Hiemalis" or some such).   

[Tim Ingram]

It would certainly be nice to honour Kath with a snowdrop - I need to look more through her 'Manavalins' lists to see where it came from. But Ian (Christie) has sent me a snowdrop he has named for Kath too. She was a pretty remarkable lady (and the RHS awarded her the VMH, which says a lot).

[Alan_b]

Tim, if you can find anything more about that particular snowdrop I would be very interested.  Whether or not it gets a name and whatever that name might be, it's such a giant of a thing that it deserves to be more wisely distributed.  I would not presume to try to name a snowdrop in honour of Kath Dryden as I personally only know of her by reputation (and it's already been done, you say).  But I thought that 'Late form ex Kath Dryden' might be adapted into a name, which could also clarify that it is only 'late' in the context of early snowdrops.

[Brian Ellis]

Well having made a big fuss, my CGS Snowdrop Group newsletter arrived in the post today. 

I continue to patiently wait.

[Alan_b]

Patience is a great virtue, Brian.  I embarrassed myself by getting needlessly impatient whilst waiting.

However if it does not arrive soon I can copy the form and email it to you, if you wish. 

[Brian Ellis]

However if it does not arrive soon I can copy the form and email it to you, if you wish.

Thank you for the offer Alan, but it has arrived this morning.  As I said before, our post seems to take longer than others!

[Alan_b]

That's just as well, Brian, because I managed to persuade an old friend to come along with me (you get an option to buy one guest ticket) and was so pleased about this that I completed the form straight away, forgetting to first make a copy. 

[emma T]

Colesbourne will be putting their snowdrop list online on Monday if anyone is interested .

[Alan_b]

.... if anyone is interested .

Oh, Emma, how could you say that!

[emma T]

Oh, Emma, how could you say that!

Because I thought it was funny 

[Brian Ellis]

Thank you for the offer Alan, but it has arrived this morning. 

...and nice to see an article by Paddy on Irish Snowdrops, an article on the Shaftesbury Festival and an account of the tornado at Glen Chantry in the spring (well that bit was not so nice for Wol and Sue).

[Alan_b]

Don't know if this has been mentioned already but Harvey Garden Plants are holding their sale (called 'A Celebration of Snowdrops') on Saturday 31st January 10:00-14:00.  Also selling are: Glen Chantry, Richard Bashford, John Foster, Michael Broadhurst, Avon Bulbs & Riverside Bulbs. Harvey Garden Plants are in Thurston near Bury St. Edmunds IP31 3SJ. 

It's a bit similar to the Myddleton House sale but a week later and at a different venue also

All undercover and frost free

(although as it's a public advertised sale so I think they mean under cover rather than "undercover")

Edit:  Forgot to mention, £2.50 per person or £2 for RHS members.

[Brian Ellis]

The day before Blacksmiths cottage so a bonanza for us in the East

[Maggi Young]

As a variation to the snowdrop events -

Ursula Cholmeley of Easton Walled Gardens Grantham -  eastonwalledgardens.co.uk - is "putting together a blog on the best snowdrop gardens" - she'd like anyone with such a garden to get in touch with her with the website links to such places. . She is on twitter as @EWGardens although I presume you could email for the attention  Ursula to Mary McKinlay Email: info@eastonwalledgardens.co.uk
Tel: 01476 530063

..... to be included 

[Maggi Young]

Snowdrops 2015 - Celebrating 250 years of Hodsock

Throughout 2015 the Buchanan family will celebrate their 250th year in residence at Hodsock Priory near Worksop. The opening of the famous Snowdrop garden and woodland will mark the start of the quarter millennial anniversary on 31st January.
George and Katharine Buchanan are saying thank you to Hodsock fans by giving away 250 FREE** tickets to the Friends of Hodsock in January, alongside a great ticket giveaway promoted through the local press.
There will be a ribbon and cake cutting event on 3rd February but most significantly, a Buchanan Sestercentennial Snowdrop lawn will be planted.  The Buchanan family will celebrate Lady’s Day at Hodsock on 25th March.  Lady Day is a religious festival that celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation. It is traditionally a day where new contracts and leases started – the start of the fiscal year under the Julian Calendar. March 25th was widely used in farming communities as the day to start life on a new farm.  And the Buchanan’s follow in this tradition.
“When we checked the archives we saw that Hodsock was signed over to William Mellish on Lady Day 1765. Said George Buchanan, General Manager and 9th generation resident at Hodsock.  “It’s very significant in the farming calendar and apt for Hodsock as women have been crucial to the longevity of the estate ever since.”
From the investment of wealthy Margaret Mellish to the visionary architectural prowess of Anne Chambers, women have had significant influence over the estate.  The Women’s Land Army (or as they are better known The Land Girls) came here during WWII and more recently it was Lady Belinda who insisted that her glorious Snowdrop garden was opened to the public for all to enjoy. 

Snowdrops 2015 is open from Saturday 31st January to Sunday 1st March.
01909 591204 | info@snowdrops.co.uk | www.snowdrops.co.uk

Event name: Snowdrops 2015 at Hodsock Priory
Start and finish time: 10am to 4pm daily, 31.01.15 to 01.03.15
Location: Hodsock Priory, Blyth, nr Worksop, North Nottinghamshire S81 0TY
Details of event: Stunning snowdrops, woodland walk, beautiful gardens, free daily history talks, heated marquee tearoom, plants & gifts, Victorian beehives & campfire.
 
"This year our anticipation of a wonderful season is heightened with the Buchanan family’s excitement about celebrating their 250th year in residence at Hodsock Priory near Worksop. The opening of the famous Snowdrop garden and woodland marks the start of their quarter millennial anniversary.
 
Aside from the breathtaking Snowdrop displays, expect to wander through banks of Hellebores, carpets of Cyclamen and ribbons of golden Aconites. Blue irises and orange and red of the Acers mixed with the heady scent of Sarcococca make Hodsock a garden for the senses."

Entry cost: £5 adults, £1 children aged 6-16, 5 and under free, wheelchair users free
Event phone number 01909 591204
Event website: www.snowdrops.co.uk


The Snowdrop garden will be open daily 10am to 4pm from Saturday 31st January 2015 for 4 weeks. Final admissions to the garden will be 4pm on Sunday 1st March.


**the 250 giveaway is aimed at Friends of Hodsock Members (more info at http://www.hodsockpriory.com/friends-hodsock, free to join at present by typing "FRIENDS1" into the promotional code on the online booking form). There will also be plenty of 2 for 1 offers in the local press throughout January and early February.