Snowdrops at Painswick
I have one or two clumps of snowdrops starting to flower in my own garden and as much as I am charmed by their appearance, they cannot compete with the sight of carpets of snowdrops that will grace many gardens over the next month or so.
I am lucky enough to be within visiting distance of two of the most famous snowdrop displays in the UK, Painswick Rococo Gardens and Colesbourne and nothing can beat the spectacular sight of thousands of snowdrop flowers en masse.
Snowdrops en masse at Painswick
Galanthophiles, otherwise known as snowdrop lovers, flock every February to Colesbourne in Gloucestershire, once the home of one of the most famous galanthophiles, Henry John Elwes. There are now 250 varieties at Colesbourne, the first named Galanthus elwesii was brought back from Turkey by Henry in 1874. His family still live at Colesbourne and the present owners have done much to build the collection.
Colesbourne snowdrops (image taken from snowdrop.org.uk)
Snowdrops for some reason seem to appeal to the collector. I have to admit that I find it difficult to see the difference between some of the varieties and yet there are those who will pay up to £25 for a pot of Galanthus ‘Lapwing’. I do, however understand why they are such a loved plant. They are one of the first flowers to appear and are hardy little things often poking up through the snow and frost. They signal a change in the seasons, with a much longed for spring on it’s way.
Colesbourne isn’t just about snowdrops though. Other spring bulbs feature such as cyclamen, crocus, daffodils and muscari, along with an excellent range of hellebores. When we visited last year I was particularly impressed with the number of winter flowering honeysuckle plants dotted around the garden, their scent was sublime. If you fancy taking a plant away with you there is a good selection and plenty that don’t cost £25. Interestingly, they dig up their bulbs when they are dormant and pot them up ready for you to plant when you get home. They believe they do better this way as there is less root damage than transplanting them when they are in the green.
Painswick is another place worth a visit to see snowdrops. The garden was designed in the 1740s in what became known as a ‘rococo style’ but by 1970 it had become an overgrown jungle. Garden historians became interested in Painswick and the owner set in place a restoration project using a painting of the gardens from 1748. It is thought that John Atkins, a retired nurseryman living in an estate cottage was the first to introduce snowdrops to Painswick. It now has one of the largest naturalistic plantings of the bulb.
I love visiting gardens and by January I am always starting to feel withdrawal symptoms, so it is great that there are places that celebrate late winter and early spring and give us gardeners, who have been cooped up all winter, an opportunity to get out and be inspired.
I unfortunately remembered when trying to find the photos for Colesbourne that the battery on our camera died that day, which was and still is very annoying. Oh well, I guess it’s a good excuse for a return visit.
We were also at Colesbourne last year, it was amazing, snowdrops as far as you could see. I love all the snowdrops, but never pay silly prices for them as we have a pheasant who struts around the garden, sometimes digging up bulbs and eating them!!
Hi,
Beautiful photos! :D
Thanks for reminding me that I need to arrange with my mum to go to Hodsock Priory again to look at the snowdrops – Last year it was like a quagmire; so wellies for me this year!
One day I hope to have lots of nice little clumps/carpets of snowdrops, and with each year my numbers steadily increase although I don’t think I’ll ever have enough to cover as far as the eye can see! ;)
Lovely post! You’re so lucky to live near this. We have bluebells and anemones nearby. I can’t wait to see carpets of blooms. It won’t be long now.
Your post made me chuckle. I have a small collection of named snowdrops (sadly smaller than it used to be) but would not describe myself as a galanthophile – yet – but it might be a different matter if I ever came into riches :) Look forward to reading about your return trip to Colesbourne.
I wait for snowdrops! But here in the US, mine will not show their faces until March. Until then, I will enjoy yours! Thank you, Joanne
I always carry an extra (charged) battery after too many disappointments. There is nothing quite like a naturalised planting of snowdrops to get one in the mood for garden visits. We’llbe off to House of Dun for their snowdrop days.
Love the new header.
Hi Janet,
It was the flat battery at Colesbourne that made us purchase a spare. We always have the spare with us now.
Snowdrops look stunning en masse. I’m afraid that I’m also unable to tell one variety from another, there can be such a minute difference.
Those are utterly stunning. I have been planting snowdrops here for a few years but I still only get drips and drops, not rivers like these. I might not have long enough to grow my own on this scale but I love them.
I have been searching the internet for anything about snowdrops and was very happy to find this. I am a bit greedy and want both quantity and quality. Thousands of nivalis and as many named varities as I can find. For some reason snowdrops are not as popular in Canada, must be after 6 months of white, no one wants white flowers as well, lol.
Hi Kilbournegrove, I guess I can understand after 6 months of snow wanting something that was another colour. We’d probably feel the same in the UK if we had more snow.