Snowdrops: Theirs is a fragile but hardy celebration…in the very teeth of winter. Louise Beebe Wilder (1878-1938) – American Gardening Writer

Presentation: Snowdrops and Snowflakes by Michael D Myers

It is becoming increasingly popular to collect Snowdrops and visit displays of Snowdrops in gardens. Originating in Europe, they have been in the UK for 300 – 400 years. A genus of 20 species, we learnt that Snowdrops are distinguished by scent, flower shapes and colours, leaves and markings, size, time of flowering and cost - some being sold at well over £1000 per bulb for a rare plant!

Michael’s illustrated talk showed us the various species and explained how to grow with other bulbs to create a long season. For Snowdrops in pots, Michael recommended a mix of 25% SylvaGrow peat free compost, 25% John Innes No.3, 25% horticultural grit and 25% perlite and suggested this as a feed.

Friday Forum members were able to purchase Snowdrops and other spring flowering plants.

Display Table

Kate brought this attractive low growing Amaryllis with three stems

and a dish of Hellebore heads

Maggie brought Narcissus “Bridle Crown” purchased at the Ilkley florists, Erica Berry. A scented plant for in or outdoors

Maggie also brought Narcissus Minnow, Snow Baby and Tête-à-tête and a sprig of vinca

Dorothy brought a container of Hellebores

From her garden, Gill J brought Snowdrops including the early Mrs Mcnamara, named after the mother-in-law of Dylan Thomas, which bloomed before Christmas, Viburnum Dawn, Cornus Mid-Winter Flame, Jasmine nudiflorum, Hellebores, Crocuses, Anemone blanda, Camellia, Pulmonarias blue and white and Garrya elliptica

Ann brought Hamamelis Aphrodite, dark white and yellow Helleborus, Iris unguicularis, Narcissus Tête-à-tête, Crocus tommasinianus, Hepatica ballardii, Galanthus nivalis S. Arnott, Puschkinia, Clematis Freckles and Eranthis hyemalis

Next Meeting: 1^st March - AGM and forum on ‘no dig’ gardening method by Charles Dowding

“The February sunshine steeps your boughs, and tints the buds, and swells the leaves within.” – William Cullen Bryant

Talk: Mountain Flower Holidays in Eastern Europe 

Michael Myers gave us a fascinating talk on Mountain Flower Holidays in Eastern Europe. After researching the best places to visit, Michael told us about his journeys since 1990s to view the alpine horticulture. We learnt about the wild flower meadows of Slovenia and the Trenta botanic gardens in the Alps on the Austrian border. We heard about the bears in Romania, which only the communist dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu, was allowed to hunt. We saw the fabulous palaces built after his regime, the flora of the Maritime Alps and the two week Prague Alpine Show. It was interesting to see some rare plants and where some more common plants originated such as saxifrage, Leopard’s Mane, Pulsatilla and Hepatica, to name but a few. 

Display Table 

In Suzanne’s vase are plants that grow in the same bed in her garden. The colours blend well together and the plants give out a strong fragrance. Helleborus hybridus, pink speckled and white with pink speckles, Helleborus niger with petals which turn green as it ages, Skimmia rubella, Skimmia confusa Kew Green, Sarcococca humilis, Euonymus Fortunei emerald and gold and Choisya ternata Sundance

Ann brought Synthyris missurica var. stellata, Leucojum vernum var. carpathicum with its yellowtips and Leucojum vernum Vagneri with green tips, Puschkinia scilloides, Hepatica ballardii, Galanthus f.p, Crocus tommasinianus and crocus Gypsy Girl 

Gill J brought Hellebores, Arabis, Anemone blanda, Jasmine nudiflorum, Muscari, Heather, Snowdrop S. Arnott and Wallflower 

Margaret H’s bowl of Hellebore heads 

In her bid to deter slugs and snails from her hostas, Kate has purchased some copper collars. We are following her progress with interest.

Next Meeting

3^rd March with a talk by the farmer florist Susie Rush: Picked at Dawn, The On Growing story. HOME (pickedatdawn.co.uk) .