Garden designer Samantha Willis talks snowdrops
It is always encouraging to see the awakening of spring with snowdrops illuminating rather dull January and February days, so it was with some delight that I spied my first snowdrop on January 12.
Hunting for snowdrops is a pleasure. You will see me searching in various graveyards for the elusive Grumpy, Galanthus elwesii ‘Green Tear’, which has two eyes and a turned down mouth etched on one of its petals. I may not be lucky in this search as they are predominantly from Cambridge, however I’m never disappointed because there are hundreds of snowdrop cultivars to enjoy.
The Galanthophile market has highlighted to me the different varieties available. In 2012 the Galanthus elwesii ‘Green Tear’ sold for £360 and Galanthus woronowii ‘Elizabeth Harrison sold for £725 - this is for just one bulb. The snowdrop market is now in play and who knows what this year will bring.
If you feel like treating yourself to a day out or are thinking of buying a bulb or two, there are plenty of places to see snowdrops in our area, and warm up with some tea and cake afterwards:
• Colesbourne Park in Gloucestershire
• Painswick Rococco Garden Gloucestershire
• Waterperry Oxfordshire
• Welford Park, Near Newbury
• Evenley Woods in Northamptonshire
So don your hat and coat and enjoy the snowdrops during these cold winter days.
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For more from Samantha Willis, visit her website: www.samanthawillisgardendesign.co.uk
