Unlike summer flowers, snowdrops pretty much have the garden stage to themselves. Couple that with their appearance at the start of the year when the initial appreciation of winter is beginning to pale and it’s easy to see why they are so popular.
Here in the Cotswolds, we have many notable snowdrop gardens. They seem to like our free-draining Cotswold ‘brash’ and thrive where many other plants struggle.
It’s been a long association. Victorian plant-hunter Henry John Elwes, who gave his name to Galanthus elwesii, lived here and Stroud was the base for the Giant Snowdrop Company, which helped to popularise the bulbs in the mid 20th century. Painswick Rococo Garden hosted Snowdrop Sundays back in the Victorian times.
Collections of snowdrops are also common in smaller gardens that I visit. It seems that once you start growing snowdrops it’s difficult to resist adding more and there’s even a name for snowdrop enthusiasts: galanthophiles.
I’ve got around 15 different varieties – I’m waiting to see if ‘Diggory’ appears this year after a no-show last season – and I’m resisting the urge to acquire more.
But if you don’t grow snowdrops, there are plenty of places in the Cotswolds where you can see them over the coming weeks.
As ever with winter gardening openings, do check websites before travelling in case bad weather has forced closure.
Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice
Cheltenham’s hospice is one of the newer gardens to open during snowdrop season, although it does have a summer open day for the National Garden Scheme.
It’s running snowdrop walks on Saturday February 1, 2020, from 10.30am to 1pm with the promise of coffee and homemade cake afterwards.
Head gardener David Bill said: “We have varieties including ‘Faringdon Double’, ‘Three Ships’ and ‘Cedric Morris’.”
Entry to the gardens in Leckhampton is £3 with refreshments available for a donation towards the hospice.
For more details, visit www.sueryder.org/leckhampton
Cotswold Farm Gardens
Cotswold Farm at Duntisbourne Abbots has a history of growing snowdrops going back generations – and there is even a variety named for this Arts and Crafts garden.
There are naturalised snowdrops in woodland and a large collection of unusual varieties growing among shrubs and perennials in the formal gardens.
It also has naturalised aconites, cyclamen and crocus, and a Winter Garden with coloured stems and scented plants.
Cotswold Farm is open every Monday in February from 11am to 3pm. There are refreshments available and snowdrop bulbs for sale. Entry is £7.50, free to children. More information: http://www.cotswoldfarmgardens.org.uk/gardens
Colesbourne Park
Colesbourne Park, the former home of plant-hunter Henry John Elwes, has one of the country’s best collections of snowdrops with around 250 different varieties.
There are mass displays of naturalised snowdrops through the woodland and alongside the unusual blue-coloured lake. Rarer varieties are found near the house and there are also parkland and an arboretum.
The 10-acre garden is open every Saturday and Sunday until March 1, from 1pm to 4.30pm with pre-booked guided tours for groups of 20-50 available on weekdays. Entry is £8.50, with children under 16 entering free. Tea and cake will also be for sale. For more information, visit www.colesbournegardens.org.uk
Rodmarton Manor
Rodmarton Manor is another Cotswold Arts and Crafts garden with a long history of snowdrop growing.
It has around 150 different varieties, including ‘Rodmarton’ and yellow snowdrops.
This year, Rodmarton Manor, near Cirencester, is open from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on Sundays February 2, 9 and 16 and also Thursday February 13. Entry is £7.50 for garden only, children aged 5-15 £1. There will be tea and cake for sale. In the event of hard frost or snow, visitors are advised to ring 01285 841442 before travelling. More details: https://rodmarton-manor.co.uk/
Painswick Rococo Garden
This quirky Cotswold garden has stunning massed displays of snowdrops, mainly of the common Galanthus nivalis.
There are also some of the more unusual varieties, including ‘Atkinsii’, named for James Atkins who found it on the estate in the 1800s.
The garden buildings, such as the icing sugar white Exedra and pale pink Eagle House, make a beautiful backdrop to the display.
Painswick Rococo Garden is open daily with entry starting at £9 for adults, £4.10 for children aged four to 16. You can check updates on flowering on social media or the website www.rococogarden.org.uk
Cerney House Gardens
Naturalised snowdrops through woodland and nestled among perennials and shrubs make Cerney House a lovely place to spend a few winter hours.
The garden at North Cerney also has cyclamen and lots of hellebores.
It opens daily until October 31 from 10am to 5pm with entry £5 for adults, £1 for children. For more details, visit www.cerneygardens.com
Batsford Arboretum
Autumn may be the traditional time to think of visiting an arboretum but Batsford also has a good late winter display of snowdrops, hellebores, aconites and scented daphnes.
Stunning views and Japanese touches, such as the Rest House and Foo Dog, make it perfect for a winter walk.
The arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays. Standard admission is £8.10 for adults, £3.15 for children.
Newark Park
This National Trust property has swathes of naturalised snowdrops around the ancient hunting lodge and through the estate grounds. Stout footwear is advised as paths can be slippery.
Newark Park, near Wotton-under-Edge, is open daily from 10am to 4pm from February 1 to March 1, 2020. Standard entry is £9.50 for adults £4.75 for children. Visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newark-park for more information.
The Museum in the Park
The Walled Garden at The Museum in the Park is holding a Snowdrop Celebration on February 8 and 9, 2020.
The terraced garden behind the museum will be open and there will be a small display on Stroud’s historic links to snowdrop growing.
There will be refreshments and plants stalls by Avon Bulbs and The Nursery at Miserden. For details, visit https://museuminthepark.org.uk/
Trench Hill
This popular garden at Sheepscombe is opening to show off snowdrops and other early flowers for the National Garden Scheme. There’s a woodland walk, ponds and beautiful views.
It’s open on February 9 from 11am to 5pm. Admission is £5 for adults, children’s entry is free. More details are available at https://ngs.org.uk/
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