Gardening is a bit like life. One never knows what on earth will happen next. Last weekend having a garden tidy up, I came across many plant pots with "something" in them. I blame moving house for this lack of knowledge of what lay within the compost, my chaotic incompetence had no bearing on the matter. Some had been labeled, now lost, some had labels and now illegible and most were just long forgotten pots covered in weeds. Pots which as some point in time had been filled with seeds, bulbs, who knows what. I always seem to have a collection of unknown pots at the back of the greenhouse or somewhere. Anyway not having time to look at these properly, I moved them all to another part of the garden for future inspection.
This I did. And two of the pots show signs of life. And not just life but snowdrops. But where on earth did they come from? It is just possible these are snowdrops from Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire. No, I didn't dig them up, but we went there last February and someone had a stall. However they may also be from East Lambrook Manor in Somerset, as I bought snowdrops from there too the year before.
One of the snowdrops was in flower and it is a double flowering one. So my guess is this is more likely to have come from East Lambrook, as they have a national collection there. Oh how I wish I'd labeled them. Hopeless!!!
Does anyone know what species this is? Or even get close (click for a closer image)?
The other pot is equally exciting, as these snowdrops seem to be emerging but struggling to get above the level of the compost. Are these the same ones as in the pot above, or different ones? I know what you're thinking, the long winter nights must just fly by in my house if this is the only thing to excites me in February. It takes all sorts.
Speaking of snowdrops, last weekend I read about the Scottish Snowdrop Festival which is run by the Scottish Garden Scheme (the yellow book's Celtic cousin, north of the border). I love the idea that some gardens open in February in Scotland to herald the arrival of spring and it all goes to charity. Well done Scotland. The article in the Daily Telegraph is here.
Well I can quite see how that find was exciting, I would have thought so too. I'm afraid I am no help with the name of them though. My Snowdrops, which I must have had about five years, look lovely...all three of them!! ;) I think maybe I should try moving them, you never know I might get four next time!
ReplyDeleteI thought I had commented on your bread making post but see I didn't :( I haven't made any for some years but I used to enjoy it, I think it is the smell as much as anything, just wonderful!
What a lovely surprise find, Andrew. Sorry I can't help with the id. I must admit I too have a lot of plant pots scattered around the garden and I haven't a clue what is in them as labels have disappeared - and I can only blame my incompetence!!Its always exciting though if a plant does start shooting and waiting for the flowers to appear to attempt an id!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the Scottish Snowdrop Festival.
Remember to move them in the green Shysongbird (ie at or immediately after flowering) otherwise they'll be checked and not grow too well. They don't like wet bottoms either so if you have heavy soil, add quite a bit of grit and compost to the planting area first. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there'll be more bread postings :-)
Phew, I'm glad it's not just me Ragged Robin, hee hee. I agree, we should all emigrate to Scotland.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful surprises. The ones you're trying to id...well, I'm not really up on bulbs that much but they resemble the grape hyacinths that grow in my garden.
ReplyDeleteI love that double snowdrop!
ReplyDeletenice ! can't remember seeing a double before!
ReplyDeleteThanks Oldcrow, Dartford and Pete. Most double snowdrops are Galanthus nivalis, but which cultival, of hunreds is anyone's guess.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, Andrew. Love your surprise flower and idea of ones in waiting!
ReplyDeleteAs you saw in my last post I too have pots in waiting. I have more with cuttings and divisions in smaller pots but did I label them all? Lol… my surprise will be weeds in wait ;-)
Ah… the snowdrop festival here in Scotland is great. I’ve posted on a few visits I’ve made. I haven’t made a list yet of where I’ll go this year. Oops… slow to promote this, this year. I’ll get that sorted later :-)
Oh… don’t know the name of your snowdrop… but I know someone to ask. I’ll mail you :-)
Hi Shirl I'll make sure I read through your back blogs for the snowdrop festival. And of course possible find out what my snowdrop is from your contact.
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