First Snowdrop Garden of the Year

We were encouraged by the number of snowdrops coming into flower in our own garden over the last fortnight, thanks to a very welcome mild spell, that we decided it might well be time to hit the road and have our first snowdrop garden visit of the year - to Altamont Gardens. The approach to …

A Farewell to Snowdrops

There are still snowdrops in flower in the garden, in full flower and in good condition, but they are the last stragglers at the end of a long season which started here with the first flowers of Galanthus reginae olgae 'Rachel Mahaffy' at the end of September. While the first flowers were prized and a …

The Snowdrop Scene

It won't last; I know it won't; well, it probably won't - a diary of sorts reporting on how the snowdrops are doing in the garden! A report at this time of the year is a simple and straight-forward affair as the number of snowdrops in flower is small but, as the season continues and …

January and a New Start!

Waterford, south-east Ireland, 16th January 2021 These last few days have been beautifully dry and mild and we have been able to get out into the garden. Each day's walk-around tell me that the plants are into growth for each days shows changes from the day before. At this time of the year, I am …

Genius loci

In ancient Rome, a genius loci was the spirit which protected a place, a territorial guardian angel of sorts. Nowadays, it is a phrase used in reference to garden design and was first enunciated by Alexander Pope. He contended that garden or landscape designs must always be adopted to the location for which they are …

A Touch of Winter

Yes, we've had a few days with a touch of winter. We're not really into winter here in Ireland; we don't have the dramatic changes of season experienced in countries further north or in central Europe; it's not something we want to experience but it is a good source of grumbling material, something to complain …

Just being Miserable!

I'm good at it; very good at it, I'm told - at being miserable, that is! I put it down to practice and, as you have heard, practice makes perfect so, yes, I am perfectly miserable! The flu came on the 20th of December and, though the dramatic misery has passed, it now lingers with …

A Gardener’s Guide to Snowdrops

The almost wildfire enthusiasm for snowdrop not only continues but is growing – a genuine galanthomania where amateur enthusiasm and commercial opportunism lead to a constant stream of newly named snowdrops – and it is a daunting challenge for any author to attempt a comprehensive listing of all cultivars. Indeed, it has frustrated others as …

A Preview.

Altamont for snowdrops has become an annual visit not to be missed. We usually visit in early February as this is generally when the greatest number of snowdrops are in flower. The snowdrop season can stretch from October until March but the greatest selection is open in February and this has dictated the timing of …

Winter Whites.

A change of colour is good for the soul so why settle for the blue when you can have white – and this is the season to be white; not the white of the heavy snows causing havoc in central Europe at the moment but the white of snowdrops in the garden. The unusual weather …