Snowdrops Facts

woodland walk in February

I have been outside on a cold grey day to see check on our snowdrops. At this time of year I get twitchy about their progress and watch weather forecasts, hoping that they will peak when our visitors arrive in mid-february. Their noses are poking through and, in some cases, the flowers are showing. Here is some snowdrop miscellany accompanied by pictures of our snowdrops:




According to the old proverb "The snowdrop in purest white array, first rears her head on Candlemas Day." (2 February)

 

Galanthus nivalis

 There are 18-19 species of Snowdrops (Galanthus) and more than 500 named varieties.

 The Species name Galanthus comes from the Greek: 'Gala' meaning milk and 'Anthos' meaning flower.

In the 19 century, a Dr. Prior wrote that the common name cannot mean snowdrop since 'snow is a dry powdery substance that cannot form a drop.' (I suspect the good doctor was also a train spotter in his spare time) It is more likely the name comes from the pearl drop earrings worn by women in the 16th and 17th centuries, as in the painting 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring'

The flower is formed in the bulb the previous March and waits nearly a whole year before pushing through the soil.

The best way to divide snowdrops is to lift a group every second year, split all the bulbs and then plant them separately with a pinch of bonemeal in the hole.

On a sunny day, snowdrops are highly scented and give off a honey smell. If you have enough plants the perfume will fill the garden.

Cedar meadow

Snowdrops contain their own anti-freeze. They were harvested during the First World War to make anti-freeze for tanks.

Snowdrop collectors and enthusiasts are called 'Galanthophiles' not to be confused with Snowdropping which is an entirely different type of fetish (apparently.)

For more information on our open days and Jackie's talks please see our events pages. We look forward to seeing you.

With all the best

Ursula Cholmeley

Birdlife at Easton

Winter is a good time of year to watch our native birds.There are no leaves to obscure them and some of the smaller species are easier to spot. Here is a selection of images taken in the gardens over the last few years.

The chaffinch is one of our most abundant and visible birds.In the spring, he sits on a branch while we are weeding calling in a loud monotone.

An assortment of tits. Long tailed tits, great tit, blue tit and willow or marsh tit (I am not sure how to tell the difference between these two but his long shiny black cap should help an expert) We feed the birds during the winter down at the birdhide.

Goldfinches have increased noticeably in the gardens since we started 10 years ago. Here they sit on the high points of the gardens watching and chattering.In late summer, Goldfinches and Greenfinches feast on the sunflower heads in the pickery.

The pied wagtail. In the summer we see grey wagtails busy around the river.

Out in the park that surrounds the gardens are lapwings, buzzards and the french partridge. The buzzards compete with jackdaws, rooks and sometimes, red kites for the skies.

The swallow arrives in April and shown here are two fledglings on the potting shed where they hatched. When we first started reviving the gardens we were down to one pair but since then there has been a steady increase. We cut holes in the doors so they can fly in to nest and the meadows we have developed have bought in plenty of new insect life. Since 2001,we have become a stopping point for migrating swallows, house martins and swifts.