Ciara is heading our way and it sounds pretty bad. I’ll be lifting all the pots down to the ground and finally getting round to picking up a few empty flower pots that always seem to lurk in the corners. The week has had a cold and frosty appearance and the beautiful blue skies tempted me out to the Hertfordshire countryside to view a snowdrop garden. I have one exciting non-snowdrop jewel from my garden but the other five are from the gardens at Benington Lordship.
One
I am always over-excited by the first flowers from any new planting in the garden and this week the newly planted Iris reticulata bulbs opened out. I chose a single variety – J S Dijt and once again realise I should have bought many, many more. The colour is stunning. Allegedly there is a scent but so far I cannot vouch for that.
Two
Now on to the snowdrops. First, galanthus ‘Primrose Warburg’. I completely fell for this one and if there had been any pots of these for sale I would probably have paid whatever the price was. Online nursery price is £25 per pot.
Three
Galanthus elwesii ‘Comet’. Retails at £20 per bulb. But oh so pretty.
Four
Galanthus plicatus ‘Diggory’ Retails at £25 per bulb. Very distinctive with its textured petals and curved shape. Lovely.
Five
Galanthus elwesii Jessica. Pretty green markings on the inner leaves. Retail price £20.
Six
Galanthus Wasp. A snowdrop with such long slender petals deserve a more beautiful name but there it is. The green inner markings are not quite visible but an internet search reveals them to be quite intricate. Price £20.
My visit to Benington Lordship was a mid week treat and I felt like I was truanting but I could so I did and it was well worth it. There were hellebores and aconites too and in a week or so I am sure there will more spring bulbs on view. The garden is open now until 1st of March but not on Sunday 9th February due to the weather warnings.
More from my garden next week and more from other gardens this week by visiting The Propagator for his cheery update and the links to other SOS posts. Batten down the hatches and stay safe.
n20gardener 
Among your snowdrops my favorite is ‘Primrose Warburg ’. Elegant and simple!
Storm Ciara doesn’t announce anything good here either. Gusts to 130km/h announced.
I will be at my in-law’s home tomorrow , near Paris, but since my house is rather close to the coast (60 km), I will have to plan to put everything away. Stay safe too.
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One fence panel down which is my neighbours but otherwise all good. The rain was torrential so I expect my soggy corner will be very wet this week. Hope you returned to find the garden in good order.
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yes everything is fine here. There are only broken branches and pots on the ground … and what we got rain!
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I agree with Fred: those Primrose Warburgs are elegant indeed! And your Iris is indeed something to celebrate: I always get a little too excited when the very first bulb(s) open up and bloom their little hearts out! Good luck with the storm!
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The snowdrops are all lovely, but the price of some of these bulbs is eye-watering! I quite like the common and garden ones anyway 😄 iris reticulata are my favourite early spring / late winter bulbs. They are so rewarding.
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I placed a bulk order for the common ones and I’ve got itchy fingers waiting for them to arrive!
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Your Iris reticulata is such a beautiful colour! As for the snowdrops – gorgeous – but well above my budget!
I occasionally give plants as a gift to a few special friends, mostly it’s a David Austin Rose (they package them so perfectly and the roses, of course, are beautiful). But I wonder what reaction I’d get if the package just contained one or perhaps two little snowdrops bulbs. 🤔
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I was only thinking today that i almost always get a hyacinth from someone at Christmas and I’d be delighted to receive snowdrops – even the everyday ones. But then a rose is a fab gift!
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Such beautiful Snowdrops. I don’t think I’ll be paying those prices though – don’t think I’d give them enough love and attention. The Iris is stunning. Mine are slow this year
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Yes I found myself able to resist the plant sale table this time!
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Iris reticulata is a new one for me. I noticed it in other regions, but have never seen it here.
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This probably does sound controversial but i don’t get the fascination with snowdrops especially at £20 a pop. Having said that they do look fantastic though.
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I agree with you on the price – I wonder what it is that makes them so expensive. Years of breeding??
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There have been many beautiful iris in this week’s six’s, but I particularly love the colour of the one you’ve chosen.
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Blimey I thought you’d taken leave of your senses! I was impressed by your labels then horrified by the amount you’d spent on snowdrops (they all look the same…) then was relieved to find this was all on a visit. Phew.
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Sanity prevailed and kneeling down to take the photos persuaded me that the common snowdrop is goof enough for my garden.
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I love your new iris. Such bold, lovely colour. I also am quite fond of the wasp, but not enough to pay for it. Good thing there are open gardens to visit in order to see such beauties. Thanks for sharing w/the rest of us!
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