Yes it's that time of year again and that first snowdrop order arrived in the post yesterday! This was the very first order that I've placed with Cornovium Snowdrops and I'm sure that I will return to order again in the future. Cornovium Snowdrops is a new small specialist mail order business selling "free range" snowdrops in the green. As the bulbs are all grown in the fair county of Cheshire this particular bulb did not have far to travel to reach me. Jane who runs the business with her partner, has been growing snowdrops for over ten years and has a magical winter garden packed with snowdrops, other bulbs as well as flowers, foliage and shrubs all chosen for winter interest. She has found that snowdrops thrive in the sandy acidic soil that she gardens in.
My new snowdrop to give her the official name is galanthus plicatus 'Sally Passmore'. She arrived as you can see above a happy and healthy bulb, which with several noses, I'm sure will soon develop into a decent clump. I was really impressed with the well established roots. Furthermore my new bulb was extremely well packed (wrapped in kitchen towel and polythene bag before being secured in a newspaper envelope) within the shelter of a sturdy box. I'm looking forward to seeing Sally flowering and will post a photo when she does. I will be scrutinising her most closely every day from now on. I've other new to me snowdrop bulbs still to come from Avon Bulbs but it will be February before they arrive, so it is most exciting to have a new addition so early in the year.
In addition to a website presence Cornovium Snowdrops can be found over on Twitter as @CSnowdrops and also has a Facebook page here where you can keep up to date with their snowdrop of the day photos. Do have a peek!
Nice - you must be getting quite a collection now Anna.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment VP. Yes the collection is slowly building up again :)
DeleteHaving read the instructions in the photo there is really no excuse for me. I should have them carpeting the wood. I am inspired.
ReplyDeleteOh do plant some 'ordinary' snowdrops in your woodland Jessica. You won't regret it! :)
DeleteSomething to look forward to! Had to protect mine as the blackbird was starting to have a go at them. Just got myself Günter Waldorf's book about snowdrops - I may turn into a serious galantophile ;)
ReplyDeleteOh you are in for a treat reading Günter Waldorf's book Annette and looking at the illustrations.
DeleteI've not seen birds or squirrels show any interest in the snowdrops that are planted in the garden but I've noticed the occasional mollusc having a nibble.
Thanks for the recommendation, I will have to have a look to see if they have any that I am lusting after! The bulb you have been sent certainly looks very healthy and full of life and vigour, you will soon have drifts!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Pauline - Cornovium Snowdrops are on the edge of Delamere Forest - an area which I'm sure you will know. It's good to be able to support a local business at its start. From what I can gather they will be adding more snowdrops during the season although some will be in small numbers so it's worth popping back.
DeleteYes, lovely healthy-looking bulbs - look forward to seeing them flower, although it may not be this year, I suppose. I bookmarked the page of this website when you mentioned it before but am now not sure whether I dare look at it now I have put my Avon order in.....! I have also ordered the new snowdrop book you got recently as I had an Amazon voucher to put towards it. I was saying to the Golfer this week that we ought to let our families know how much value there is in our snowdrop collections just in case... well, you know..... but it would indeed be sad if someone took over our gardens at some time in the future without knowing what joys there were to be found.....
ReplyDeleteOh go on Cathy - have a peek! Funnily enough I've thought about who I would like my 'drops to go to just in case :)
DeleteLook forward to the photos Anna. I spotted a few tiny snowdrop shoots here this morning, so hope it stays mild for a while!
ReplyDeleteOh not long to go then Cathy if it continues to be so mild :)
DeleteI've just had a look at Sally and she looks lovely. I like the understated snowdrops rather than the big, frilly, double ones. I've had a look at the website you bought her from, goodness, don't let me get too fond of snowdrops, have you seen the price of some of them?
ReplyDeleteYes I most certainly have Jo! :)
DeleteI laughed at Jo's comment, above, as that was exactly my reaction! I'd love to put masses of snowdrops in the gardens here but, as they'd be bought from my pocket for a community space, I think at those prices I'll have to resist! I believe the dry bulbs are cheaper than buying in the green so might keep a watch out for some of those and hope for the best. Lovely to have early spring colour - you'll have something to look forward to next January!
ReplyDeleteOh Caro please do not be misled by my post. Snowdrops such as 'Sally Passmore' are named snowdrops and have unique markings hence the prices. You can buy 50 galanthus nivalis bulbs in the green for a fiver and they will soon spread. Unfortunately the dry snowdrop bulbs that you see in the garden centres in the autumn have often been out of the ground too long to be up to much when planted :(
DeleteSo in love with these little beauties. Look forward to seeing your blooms!
ReplyDeleteYou and me both Ms.S :)
DeleteHow nice to be able to look forward to some blooms in your garden very soon! I have only a few snowdrops each spring; I keep waiting for them to multiply, but they've been very slow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Rose. I wonder whether your summer temperatures may be sadly not to their liking :(
ReplyDelete