Snowdrop events 2015

[Maggi Young]

 

Get up close and personal with Chelsea Physic Garden’s stunning presentation of those outstanding harbingers of spring, snowdrops. In 2015 you can take the unique opportunity to view snowdrops at eye level, in a range of quirky new displays that allow you to appreciate their minutiae and subtle complexities.
As the snowdrops take centre stage, other late winter beauties such as wild primulas, miniature iris and delicate crocus make up the supporting cast. These are also elevated in order that their ephemeral beauty can be witnessed up close.
Many of the beautiful bulbs, shrubs and perennials on display will be available to buy from the marquee where our Growing Friends volunteers and Garden experts will be on hand to guide you through choosing the best of these winter delights.
 
The event also includes a variety of Walks, Talks and Workshops with garden and snowdrop specialists.

Tangerine Dream Café will be serving warming lunches, mulled wine and other winter treats.

Saturday 31 January to Sunday 8 February 2015, 10am–4pm
Admission: £9.90: adults
£6.60: students (with student cards); children 5-15 years
Free to Friends of the Garden
Maximum of two under 16s admitted per adult.

The Snowdrop Days Walks, Talks and Workshops programme includes (free unless specified):

Sensational snowdrops Joe Sharman
A talk by the plantsman of Monksilver Nursery
Saturday 31 January, 10.30am – 12pm & 2-3.30pm    FREE

Galanthus galore John Grimshaw
An illustrated talk from the author of ‘Snowdrops, A monograph of cultivated galanthus’
Sunday 1 February, 2-3.30pm    FREE

Surviving winter Michael Holland, Head of Education and Tom Wells, Gardener
A Garden tour on winter survival strategies in nature
Monday 2 February, 11am-12pm & 2-3pm  FREE

A plant lover’s guide to snowdrops Naomi Slade
Illustrated talk, planting demonstration and a book signing
Tuesday 3 February, 2-3pm     FREE

Painting snowdrops & other winter gems Lucy Smith
Botanical watercolour painting including one-to-one instruction
Wednesday 4 February, 9.30am – 4pm, £105

Best in snow tour Nick Bailey, Head Gardener
Highlights from a winter garden
Thursday 5 and Sunday 8 February, 11am & 2pm  FREE

Naming of the shrew John Wright
A witty homage to the joyousness of Latin names, an illustrated talk with wine and book signing
Thursday 5 February, 6-8pm, £15

Garden pharmaceuticals Peter Houghton
A talk on snowdrops, daffodils and other garden drugs
Friday 6 February, 2-3pm FREE

Garden herbal remedies Maria Vlotides
Explore the traditions and science of plant medicine and make your own spring tonic
Saturday 7 February, 9.30am-4pm, £95

For more information and to book visit www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/snowdrops


Chelsea Physic Garden is an independent charity committed to the conservation of plants and to the demonstration to people of the importance of them in all our lives.
Situated in the heart of London, the Garden has a unique living collection of around 5,000 different edible, useful, medicinal and historical plants. This ‘hidden gem’ is also a peaceful green oasis in which to enjoy a relaxing stroll and lunch or afternoon tea at the Tangerine Dream Café.

The Garden’s warm microclimate means that many tender plants can flourish including a number of rare and endangered species. It has the largest outdoor fruiting olive tree in Britain and the world’s most northerly outdoor grapefruit tree. From pomegranates to gingkos, mulberries to eucalyptus, there are over 100 different types of tree in the Garden, many of which are rare in Britain. The glasshouses hold a collection of tropical and sub-tropical species, complemented by a Victorian Cool Fernery.

Chelsea Physic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in London and was founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for the purpose of training apprentices in identifying plants. It subsequently became one of the most important centres of botany and plant exchange in the world.

Location
Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HS
Tel. +44(0)20 7352 5646
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk


The Garden is wheelchair accessible.
Disabled access via 66 Royal Hospital Road.
How to get there Chelsea Physic Garden is easily accessible by public transport. Visitor entrance is via Swan Walk Gate. Underground stations: Sloane Square (District & Circle Lines), South Kensington (Piccadilly, District & Circle Lines). Mainline trains to Victoria & Clapham Junction and 170 Bus, alight at Chelsea Physic Garden. Also Buses 11, 19, 22, 137, 211, 319, 360 & C1 stop nearby.

[Mavers]

Well if not a hug  a good, firm & friendly handshake.

[emma T]

Well if not a hug  a good, firm & friendly handshake.

That sounds okay , group photo would be good too

[Maggi Young]

At SRGC events there is usually a lot of hugging - we're an affectionate bunch.......  .... ask Art! 

[Mavers]

Trouble is Maggi us soft southerners have just one part of our anatomy that remains permanently stiff.................our upper lip.   

[Maggi Young]

I believe the booking forms for the Cottage Garden Society snowdrop event may be available to members - better investigate if you're interested. http://www.thecottagegardensociety.org.uk/

[Alan_b]

Don't get me started, Maggi.  You first have to join the Cottage Garden Society (which can be done online).  Then you have to join the Snowdrop Group (which can't be done online).  Then you get a booking form.  Byzantine complexity!

[Brian Ellis]

Well Alan it is only fair.  The group was set up as part of The Cottage Garden Society for those interested in galanthus, not for the general public.  It is not run by the National Society but by a small group of volounteers for the benefit of the members.  If you really want to go to their event a small amount of

Byzantine complexity!

is not such a big deal

[Alan_b]

Yes, Brian, but it would be so much easier if you could join/renew with the Snowdrop Group at the same time as you join/renew with the CGS.  It doesn't seem to be determinate if I even remain on the Snowdrop Group mailing list so I don't know if I should have got the Newsletter with a booking form by now or if they are still to be sent out.  So Maggi's message that the booking form may be available to members touched a raw nerve.  Either it is available or it isn't yet; surely somebody must know!   

[Maggi Young]

Alan, I suggest you contact the Snowdrop Group of the CGS - there is an email contact - in fact there are two - given on the Snowdrop Group page of the CGS website, - that page is one click away from the main page.

[Alan_b]

I've already done that a few weeks ago.  If it was a simple as sending an email and getting an unambiguous reply then I would not be complaining.  In actuality I sent three emails and got one reply which still left me uncertain as to whether or not I remain on the mailing list.

[Maggi Young]

Ohhhh.......... 

[Alan_b]

Fundamentally the CGS seems to be a nice little society; they have a magazine and a seed list and some local groups, although not one for Cambridgeshire.  Their Snowdrop Group issues a newsletter and holds an annual meeting with talks and sales tables.  But communicating with them has always been hit-and-miss for me.  Having to join the CGS and then, separately, join a group within the CGS and then, separately, apply to go to their meeting is more complicated than I would wish.  Still worth the effort, as Brian says, if I can actually manage to do it.

[Tim Ingram]

Alan - just caught this little discussion. I'm not a member of the CGS or Snowdrop Group (or any snowdrop group actually) but they are visiting our garden and  a couple of others in Kent and we are doing our best to tidy the garden in readiness! Hopefully they might see your 'Green Light'! 

As primarily a gardener who tries to keep pace with the burgeoning Internet, emails, and it seems to me a slightly overheated environment, I quite like the process of going outdoors and working on the winter garden and I suspect snowdrops will figure more and more in years to come in our garden. Whether we can keep the garden tidy enough for the earlier ones is a moot point   but I'm quite tempted after visiting David and Anke Way over a number of years, and seeing the list you have been compiling.

[Alan_b]

Well having made a big fuss, my CGS Snowdrop Group newsletter arrived in the post today.  I can renew my Group subscription and pay for Members Day tickets at the same time, so that's great.  Fuss over nothing, perhaps?  Anyway:

Members Day is on 21st February 2015 at Hadlow College in Kent.  The format has changed this time with only one talk (by Naomi Slade) but garden visits in both the morning and afternoon (using a timed ticket system).  Sellers include Monksilver Nursery, Glen Chantry, Olga Barber, Melvyn Jope, the Thorpes and the Broadhursts.

In the Newsletter there in an account of the Members Day 2014, an article on Irish Snowdrops by Paddy and Mary Tobin, Full details of the 2015 Members Day and the application form, Accounts, 'Tornado Strikes Glen Chantry', 'Ruby Baker Remembered' (and also in the editorial), 'The Shaftesbury Snowdrop Project' and more.

I now see that Snowdrop Group membership runs from January to December (unlike CGS membership which runs from October to September - this got me confused).  So if you were a member you will get the November 2014 Newsletter whether you have renewed already or not.  If you want to become a member you must first join the CGS then contact the Snowdrop Group.