Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Seduced by snowdrops

Too late: their spell has worked. I may not be a full-fledged galanthophile yet, but I have definitely stepped over the edge of the slippery slope. This one is G. 'John Gray'

I can't help it. I have tried to resist: but I am being bewitched by little white flowers.

I think it's something to do with the fact that I've never been able to grow snowdrops before: in the dry acid sand of my previous Surrey garden they just turned up their toes and died.

But in my current damp, shady, chalky garden they're coming up all over the place, and I really had never realised how utterly captivating they are. They may be tiny: you may have to get down on your hands and knees and do complicated things with the petals before you can see inside (you end up blowing air at them and all sorts) but ah: they are so charming.

G. 'Warham': it's the leaves that make this particular variety so special (and a good thing too: the flowers don't turn up for a while)

It wasn't helped this year by a visit I made to a snowdrop-lover's garden for work in late January (which is where all the photos in this post were taken, explaining why only the very earliest are in flower yet).

It was early in the year, on a rather uninviting and cloudy day; many of the 34 different varieties were still well underground. But I hadn't realised, before I went there, that snowdrops did flower at different times of the year; in fact you can pretty much have a snowdrop somewhere in the garden from about October till March.

You have to look closely (of course): but see those little yellow-tinted humps? G. 'Sandersii': possibly the snowdrop I covet most of all

On the differences between the varieties: well I can see the point of doubles versus singles, and I also was very taken by the yellow ones (they're that particular shade of buttery yellow that just looks delicious). But like Victoria, mostly to me a snowdrop is a snowdrop is a snowdrop.

G. gracilis, with smaller, strappy, glaucous leaves, rather like a grass with attitude before the flowers emerge

I can also just about see the attraction of some of the rarer 'novelty' snowdrops like G. elwesii 'Grumpy', whose markings make it look as if it's got a face on it, though not £60 worth of attraction - the going rate for a 'Grumpy' bulb these days. And I don't think I shall ever feel that £357 on a single bulb of G. plicatus 'E.A. Bowles' was money well spent.

G. elwesii: in flower in late January

However: the idea of having snowdrops of a host of different leaf colours, widths and sizes followed by flowers fat, slim, green- or yellow-tipped, over several months at the bleakest time of the year: now that I can understand.

G. 'Barbara's Double': you'll have to take my word for it, but this is a good choice for a late-ish double flower that's not too fat and ungainly

I came away from my visit to Dr Lloyd's garden with a shopping list, of varieties which were coming out then (late January) and which would be out over the next month or so. They are, in order (more or less) of appearance:

Galanthus 'John Gray': reliable, vigorous and emerging when few others were: and the flowers are large to the point of being top-heavy

G. 'Dionysus'

G. 'Dionysus': another double: and a rather finer one than the overstuffed-cushion of many double snowdrop flowers. These have fewer inner petals and a more elegant flower shape all round.

G. 'Ophelia': one of the best doubles, richly-coloured green splashes and huge heads: this was emerging on my visit, no doubt open by early February

G. 'Atkinsii'

G. 'Atkinsii': Another larger-flowered snowdrop: highly thought-of for its vigorous habit and its long, elegant petals

G. nivalis 'Sandersii': oh I fell in love with this one. Butter-yellow ovaries, for want of a more romantic name, are such a surprise and delight emerging from the ground in January: for this snowdrop I would get down on my knees every morning.

G. nivalis 'Scharlockii': a later variety, probably early to mid February: this one has green tips to the outer petals too and is a slender, elegant flower

G. 'Warham': Slightly later than most, but you forgive it everything for its foliage: I never realised snowdrops had such varying foliage. This one is broad, a glaucous silvery grey with a pale silver stripe. Fabulous from January even though the flowers don't turn up for a month after.

G. 'Straffan': another vigorous one, emerging early to mid February so one of the later varieties

And just as a postscript, the varieties I rejected:

G. reginae-olgae: this flowers in autumn. I'm sorry but there is something in me that rebels viscerally against a snowdrop in autumn. I could not bear to have it in my garden: it would offend my very soul.

G. ikariae latifolius: purely and simply on the recommendation (or anti-recommendation?) of Dr. Lloyd, who has been pulling out the stuff for years as it's vigorous to the point of being invasive. I've got enough weeds: don't need any more.

And a post-postscript: any mis-identifications of photos in this article are purely the result of my somewhat hit-and-miss hearing while scuttling around behind Dr Lloyd on a chilly day in Exeter, and no reflection on her own expertise.

6 comments:

VP said...

I was at John Sales' Cotswold garden with Patient Gardener on Saturday. A mere 250 cultivars to mull over. The best bit was the mass planting in the iron age ditch though.

I haven't quite slipped as far as you, but I'm happy to have an example of each species. I was also disappointed at Painswick Rococo garden not find G. 'Atkinsii' for sale seeing it was discovered there (and the ultimate garden visit souvenir?), but they'd sold out.

camillap said...

Thank you for this beginners' guide to galanthophilia (is that right?). I can tell that you have crossed over - and I have to say that you make kneeling down and peering into snowdrop flowers sound quite appealing. I'm still at the admiring from afar stage, but add a new variety every year to my tiny garden. So perhaps it's only a matter of time before I join you...

Janet/Plantaliscious said...

I think you may be sliding down that slope faster than you realise ;-) Look forward to lots of snowdrop close-ups from your garden next year!

Jason said...

I was at Chippenham Park Gardens over the weekend where the have a splendid Snowdrop display that drifts through the woodland. I think part of their charm is that you have to get so close to appreciate them.

Thanks for all the details of the various varieties. I think I'll be adding some new varieties to my own garden.

The Constant Gardener said...

VP - two snowdrop gardens in one year, and one with money and a shopping list? sorry - you're a long way further down that slope than me I'm afraid :D John Sales's garden in particular sounds intriguing though - one for the list...

Camilla - so c'mon, confess, if you've been adding new varieties each year you must have a few by now? plenty more than me, anyway...?

Plantaliscious - I shall do my best :D

Jason - another snowdrop garden to add to the list, thank you. And yes I agree: it's like discovering hidden beauty when you peer in there and find all those pea-green hearts and spots. So lovely, especially now when there's so little else to gladden the heart.

Anna said...

Mmmmm - I think that you are showing potential signs of addiction :)

Related Posts with Thumbnails