Hodsock Priory - snowdrop heaven

Hodsock reduced their number of weeks to only three this year, commencing on Saturday. A difficult decision I should imagine but reducing staff overheads is a consideration for any business. And on a bright day today with lots of visitors, perhaps it has been the correct decision. The woodlands looked particularly impressive. I normally meet George Buchanan, who manages the estate, though today he was not in evidence. Still, the plant stalls and refreshment tent were splendid as usual.

The view of the house is always impressive from this point, almost the perfect English country residence, don't you think

The thick snowdrops and early flowering narcissus, 'Cedric Morris' take the eye on the bank

Thick clumps of big snowdrops abound

Chimonanthus

The spur to many a purchase of Hamamelidaceae in variety, well priced at the stalls

Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley', I believe

Cyclamen Coum

And always a chance of unearthing something special

'Cedric Morris'. I acquired one last month. It's been a long wait for this early bloomer. They were just going over here 

But another early cultivar was just coming into bloom in a sunny spot

Carpets of white

The Winter Garden at Anglesey Abbey

The Winter Garden at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire is one of the sights of the season. We had gone to admire the snowdrops (and they were super) but it was the varied winter plantings of trees and shrubs that captured our attention. Excellent restaurant and plant stalls with wide variety, including a range of snowdrops. "You say to ask about  'Anglesey Orange Tip'. 'We have one left.' 'How much?' '£95.'
'Er sorry .....'

The gardens have more than 250 varieties of snowdrop. Here snowdrops are mixed with hellebore

Winter aconites and snowdrops combine wonderfully

Anglesey Abbey itself with a fascinating collection from all over the world

Looking towards Jubilee Avenue planted in 1977

Cyclamen leaves 1

Cyclamen leaves 2

Lode Mill

First daffodils

Witch-hazel 1

Witch-hazel 2

Viburnum

Himalayan Silver Birch

Chimonanthus

Witch-hazel 3

Sarcococca - nothing to look at but wonderful scent

Galanthus 'Modern Art' & 'Jade'

 Two  similar snowdrops, one rather better known and dating back to the 1950s. 'Modern Art' was modern then and modern now, with its long outer petals with markings green at the tips and variable colouring higher up the petals. It was described in 'A Gardener's Guide to Snowdrops' (Freda Cox) as a seedling selected by E B Anderson in his garden in Lower Slaughter, near Stow on the Wold, another discovery being 'Tubby Merlin'. I lost my first one last year and this is a replacement.

 'Jade' was also more recently discovered in Gloucestershire, and was described in a best snowdrops list for 'Gardener's World' as, 'Highly sought after for the wash of green on its outside petals and habit of curling its scape (flower stalk) almost back on itself. The amount of green can vary.' I bought it at the same time as 'Modern Art'. Similar aren't they? They sit beside each other in identical pots on the shelf so I'll trace their development. I listened to Bob Flowerdew last week on 'Gardener's Question Time' say with no trace of irony that his garden was a laboratory. My garden is a laboratory.

Snowdrops in the green: Galanthus 'Trymlet', 'Bertha' & 'South Hayes'

Galanthus 'Trymlet'  has multiplied very well and is ready for a change of location. I'll have to give it a bit of thought. In the meantime the bulbs still share a spot with 'Percy Picton' and are a little earlier than that worthy cultivar. Last year Percy was earlier. I've notice this about snowdrops over the years. They do sometimes vary in flowering time. The flowers will progress to form that perfect pagoda shape and I will post another view later in the month.

I thought it might also be an opportunity to compare the green marked varieties. So here are, first, 'South Hayes' and second, 'Bertha' taken on Sunday. The former is an upright grower with the petals very tight together save in warm sun, and it was not warm on Sunday though bright. The green markings extend almost to the full length of the outer petals. And it is a deep green making the flower very striking. It is sending up offsets with some abandon. 'Bertha' needs a bit of fleshing out yet and I have been waiting for the full opening of the petals for two weeks. The variety is a softer green. 'Phil Cornish' is coming into flower and I'll post on that very slow growing cultivar in the next few days. It's hardly offered for sale as it doesn't take too kindly to the scalpel so someone will contact me as they often do and I say I haven't the time to sell on eBay. But that is for another day and I do obtain swaps that way!

Hepatica Japonica Momohanabi

They are tricky beggars to grow properly. However, Hepatica japonica Momohanabi has just commenced flowering and I hope for a mass of the tiny, jewel like flowers. I am experimenting with the best place to plant them. At the moment the highly regarded plants reside in a sunny position though I have lost several in the past when they have either dried out or been waterlogged. Momohanabi is a named variety, rather choice. I have some interesting unnamed doubles. They are so exotic they seem out of place in the winter garden. Lovely though.

I was a little dissatisfied with my images of this little plant and this afternoon (Monday) decided to redo them. So first up is a photograph set against a more colourful background, the one below sitting on the outside windowsill. You can see why the Japanese have developed the culture of these little plants into something of an art form.

Hopton Hall

Yesterday was perfect weather for a day in the White Peak National Park except we didn't quite get there. Instead we made our first visit of the year to a snowdrop garden. Hopton Hall Gardens lies just outside the National Park and is a commercial business providing holiday accommodation in its beautiful grounds. I have written about the property and its history previously so will try not to repeat myself.

The snowdrop area does not extend throughout the grounds and there is no great variety of cultivars. That said, the walk is uplifting, commencing through the light woodland area, paths newly laid, past the house and into the restored walled garden.  At this time of year, however, it is the thickly planted snowdrop drifts that lift the spirits.

 The small lake was so still and tranquil it does not require words. And one may stay in the house at a price. More within my price bracket are the tea rooms. I recommend the herb and cheese scones.

And then we moved on to the almost deserted Carsington Water, just a mile or so away. Normally it is packed. We were lucky. The sun shone and we did some more vigorous exercise walking by the lake. Plus, and in February this is a big bonus, we had a wonderful meal at the superb restaurant with an elevated view.