This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Snowdrops on Show

I've been taking lots of photos of snowdrops... and they all pretty much look the same.

Highly recommended for all gardens!
Snowdrops look great growing under trees and shrubs. 
Daffodils are starting to come up and will flower as the snowdrops finish. 
One of the jobs on my 'to do' list is to divide the snowdrops to spread them out a bit. From watching gardening programmes I believe the best time to divide is when they're in flower or before the foliage begins to die down.
Last year I moved some bulbs and planted them individually in this new area. In the background you can see the staggered individual plants (each a single bulb). Over time (over a few years) they will form clumps making a much bigger impact.
Gardening is great for those who are patient.
Snowdrops with a backdrop of Yellow Archangel / Dead Nettle weed.

18 comments:

  1. Hi! I just discovered your blog! I love your background, it is beautiful and I'm looking forward to learning more about what gardening in Ireland is like. Love the snowdrop show, I don't have any but must get some this year as I see it is the first blooming plant in many gardens during the winter. Lovely!

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  2. I saw something on the internet the other day which disproves your assertion that all Snowdrops look the same - there were dozens of different styles! Or did you mean that all your photos of them look the same? For me Snowdrops really epitomise the starting of a new year, so a garden full of them is always a welcome sight.

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    1. Hi Mark, I meant that my photos all look much the same. And the snowdrops in my garden all look very similar. They're probably my favourite bulb; they are generally the first splash of colour after the Dec-Jan grey and cold; a sign of hope and better weather to come!

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  3. Thanks for your comment on my pink blog post. And yes, beetroot can be lovely in juice, I nearly always add one or two to my daily smoothies made in a Vitamix, which is even better than juicing because you don't lose the fibre, and you get all the goodness from the skin (if you left it on) which often has concentrated goodness.

    At this time of year I can recommend a juice of 1 beetroot, 1 carrot, 1 apple and a chunk of ginger. I love ginger and use lots but even a single slice will add winter warmth. For those using something like a vitamix you also need to add some water, at least half a cup, so you get a drink rather than a thick goop (though if you have ice in there the goop becomes like a sorbet - yum).

    Your snowdrops are looking great. I seem to have a very clear split in the garden between ones that are at that stage and ones that are really thin and barely there at all. Noticed the same thing last year. My crocus have barely even pushed the tips of their leaves even though 4 miles away in Edinburgh they have been out for about 2 weeks. I suppose we are so exposed and cold up here things are wary of coming up too soon - very wise of them.

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    1. The beetroot, carrot, apple and ginger sounds great. My favourite juice is carrot, apple and ginger but I've never put beetroot in. I have a juicer but I've not heard of a Vitamix - will have to google it.

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  4. And, I don't have any of these in my garden. I see them on the blogs in late winter and every year say to myself I must add some to my garden. It has yet to happen. If you lived closer we could share some pass along plants!

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  5. And mine are not blooming! :( Yours are very pretty. Love them coming up through the groundcover, too. Smart of you to divide them and have new clumps growing in other areas of the garden. Wouldn't a big mass of these be beautiful?!

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  6. Yet another bulb that I should add to my early spring list.

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  7. I always look forward to this flower in my neighbour garden at the end of winter here. Wish we have them too. It so pretty Kelli.

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  8. It's so pretty! I wish I have the cool weather in my place to grow them!

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  9. U had never herd of them. They are so beautiful... I shall plant them in my garden soon.

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    1. I am sorry, I meant I had never herd of them

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  10. You can't go wrong with snowdrops, especially when they bulk up and form drifts.

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  11. I absolutely love snowdrops although I much prefer the single varieties to those doubles.

    Anyone buying snowdrops should look out for one advertised as in the green or dig some from a friends garden whilst they still have leaves. They don't preform well if planted as dry bulbs!

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  12. I don't have many snowdrops in my garden, they've been there years but have never bulked up. I think I should get some more as they're so pretty.

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  13. I've so enjoyed your pictures of snowdrops! They are cheerful, elegant bulbs. I plan to add them to the gardens around the new house next fall. I really can't believe I don't have any in my current gardens. Cheers, Jenni

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  14. Love your snowdrops. Mine are still in tight bud. We've got snow though, but that doesn't really count, does it ?

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  15. I used to have snowdrops growing at the base of a huge oak tree in my garden when I lived in Scotland. They were the first flowers to appear and were always keenly anticipated.
    The daffodils and crocus came next to add their splash of colour.
    Ahh...my old garden (sigh) not quite the same here now in Melbourne. I'm on a steep learning curve but it's very exciting until I suffer a failure ;)

    Have a wonderful weekend, but please don't rush into Spring because that'll make it Autumn here and I don't feel ready for that just yet :D

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