Lake approach at Colesbourne
This Tuesday I attended an enjoyable Snowdrop study day at Colesbourne Gardens. Our first speaker was Steve Owen, one of the National Collection Holders. Steve's brutal hygiene routine (regularly blasting his bulbs with dilute Jeyes Fluid) did create a few shock waves, and personally I think it's not a regime for the environmentally friendly grower. But everyone enjoyed his honest account of how he became an obsessive collector. Colesbourne played a key role in triggering his passion, and after spending some time walking the grounds, I can understand why.
Cyclamen coum & galanthus at Colesbourne
The second speaker was Rod Leeds, a distinguished alpine grower and member of the RHS Joint Rock Garden committee. Rod demonstrated his own method for chipping and twin-scaling bulbs. He then talked us through some beautiful examples of snowdrops he and his wife Jane had twin-scaled. All in all, a helpful and informative talk, and from the volume of questions and photos taken, I could tell the audience really enjoyed it.
My own highlights from the day were as follows. First, seeing masses of snowdrops naturalised in grass, often alongside exquisite displays of Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium. Secondly, discovering a few beauties: the genuinely honey-scented Galanthus S. Arnott; G. 'Hippolyta', which was notably vigorous and healthy; and G. 'Lady Elphinstone,' a double with pale yellow markings on the inners. See below.
Thirdly and finally, Emma Thick solved a conundrum that had been bothering me for some time. She believes that when bulbs become too congested, they "rise to the surface." This winter I found masses of large bulbs lying on the ground near clumps of congested snowdrops, and wondered if I had been careless lifting and moving them last year. On the contrary, I suspect now that I hadn't divided all of the clumps, and they were in effect doing it for me.
A great day for snowdrop lovers. Well done to Chris Horsfall, Head Gardener, for organising it.
My own highlights from the day were as follows. First, seeing masses of snowdrops naturalised in grass, often alongside exquisite displays of Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium. Secondly, discovering a few beauties: the genuinely honey-scented Galanthus S. Arnott; G. 'Hippolyta', which was notably vigorous and healthy; and G. 'Lady Elphinstone,' a double with pale yellow markings on the inners. See below.
Thirdly and finally, Emma Thick solved a conundrum that had been bothering me for some time. She believes that when bulbs become too congested, they "rise to the surface." This winter I found masses of large bulbs lying on the ground near clumps of congested snowdrops, and wondered if I had been careless lifting and moving them last year. On the contrary, I suspect now that I hadn't divided all of the clumps, and they were in effect doing it for me.
A great day for snowdrop lovers. Well done to Chris Horsfall, Head Gardener, for organising it.
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