It’s mid February so it really is snowdrop time. Those in my garden are galanthus nivalis. I inherited one two clumps and since arriving here five years ago have planted about 400. They are beginning to settle in. But this week I visited Bennington Lordship, a private garden in Hertfordshire that opens in February to show its collection. So here are six photos from that garden.
One
This combination of hellebore and snowdrops was snapped at the entrance to the garden. This is a combination I have replicated in the garden here. My hellebore and snowdrop combination is in a north facing border and the hellebore is just beginning to open.
Two
The combination of winter aconites and snowdrops is used in the grass that edges the drive. I have resisted aconites so far but they do look cheerful in this mix.
Three
Paddy Tobin, galanthophile, often shows snowdrops with cyclamen. This is another combination I’d like to try out. At Bennington Lordship this pairing of snowdrops with tiny cyclamens caught my eye.
Four
I always enjoy seeing this yellow variety. There was no label by this clump but I wonder if they are ‘Wendy’s Gold’.
Five
And without fail, I am drawn to ‘Comet’. It looks so plump!
Six
This one is ‘James Backhouse’, another large form, this one has longer petals.
I couldn’t resist adding a bonus photo this week: Nobody is going to wrest the crown from this mossy chap!
Back to my garden next week. The Propagator has the links to all the SOSs from around the world so drop by and take a look. He might be out in the garden, or on a long run but somehow he still keeps us in order, for which many thanks.
n20gardener 
Lovely snowdrop fest, I particularly like them in combination with the others. That white hellebore is so white! And I would very much like that cherub statue in my garden, he is a bobby dazzler!
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Bobby dazzler indeed. And now I am left wondering where that phrase comes from…
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And now I am too!
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Bobby Dazzler? What is that? It sounds better than an unhappy Yoda.
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Lol, it means anyone or thing that stands out, looks very good!
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like Rhody?
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Rhoddy is definitely a bobby dazzler!
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A lovely display there – sadly much to far away for me to visit. I definitely need more snowdrops.
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Wonderful garden ! You’re lucky to visit gardens in winter. Here, almost everything is closed.
You’re right : nice combo the
snowdrops with cyclamens #3 !!
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When I saw the pictures on my phone I was quite jealous that you had those attractive yellow snowdrops! But 400! Wow! I like the combinations here. I have a few (and I mean a few) aconites and snowdrops under my Kilmarnock willow tree, and lots more crocuses. Definitely need more of both to get that effect!
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Just to clarify, It’s not me that has the yellow ones – or any of the others shown today! Mine are all the common one! Planted over a few years – 400 paid for but maybe not 400 flowering! I’ll need to do do a head count !!
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Haha.. yes, I realised the ones in the photos aren’t yours 😊 I have only planted 50 snowdrops, probably under a dozen flowering.
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Gosh am having such a glitchy day with WordPress today, I was just commenting here and it took me to Jim’s page, same thing happened on another site earlier. Weird. ANYWAY I was just saying, love the combos of snowdrops with other things, I think the snowdrop-cyclamen combo is my favourite, they compliment each other so well. Looks like a lovely garden, but looking forward to seeing yours again next week, and the 400 snowdrops!
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WP glitches for me too. Seemed like every time I typed a k I was zipped off somewhere else. 400 planted , not sure 400 flowering and they are getting munched!
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The allure of snowdrops evades me. I am told that I would appreciate them more if there was not so much in bloom throughout winter here, and they were the first to come up through the snow. I do happen to like white flowers, and white is my favorite color, but if I ever get snowdrops, I will get the first variety that comes along, and likely be satisfied with them. It would be nice if they could naturalize within the confines of the landscapes. They fit the style of our landscapes here splendidly. You can likely imagine that they would be very pretty among the redwoods.
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Here the common one is often grown under deciduous trees and they do bulk up over the years.
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Is the common sort common because it is more prolific than the cultivars? Do you find that cultivars are less vigorous?
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The cultivars are so expensive here. Some have a passion for collecting them , and pay eye watering sums for rarity.
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but are they as reliable or vigorous?
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It looks like a super garden with lots of great combinations to be inspired by.
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Thank you so much. I try to work on combinations and of course trying to get an extended season.
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