IN ONE of his less famous poems about flowers, William Wordsworth described the snowdrop as a “venturous harbinger of spring”.
This iconic little flower is a sign that while the days remain cold and the nights are still long and dark, spring is on the way. For me, the appearance of snowdrops is the start of a sequence of flowering bulbs that ends around the summer solstice when the alliums and Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ are in full bloom. Between now and mid-summer there’ll be crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, snakes head fritillary, bluebells, tulips and many more, each getting a little taller than the last as the winds become warmer and less persistent.
Arguably it is the snowdrop (Galanthus) that is held in most affection, marking as it does, the beginning of the gardening year. Its botanical name means milk flower – an apt name for the dainty white flower whose buds look like drops of milk hanging from the stem.
The most popular type, of which none are native, is the common snowdrop G. nivalis, but there are another 20-odd genus sharing similar characteristics, and hundreds of varieties, some smaller, others as tall as 30cm.
G. nivalis is prevalent in many woodlands in Ireland and Britain, where over a couple of decades it will naturalise and create an expansive white carpet. In their natural habitat they can be found on mainland Europe and Asia, across a broad swathe stretching from the Iberian peninsula to the Middle East.
In the coming weeks, across these islands the snowdrop will be celebrated at number of venues and events.
Here in the north, the best places to view these brave little flowers, whose longevity is extended the colder the weather gets, are at properties belonging to the National Trust.
Already the snowdrops are raising their heads at the Argory in Moy and Springhill in Moneymore, Co Tyrone, Castle Ward and Rowallane in Co Down, and Castle Coole, Co Fermanagh .
Each venue is open throughout weekends in February, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the carpets of snowdrops that line the many walks around the estates.
At Co Carlow’s Altamont Gardens the whole month of February is dedicated to the delicate white and green blooms of the snowdrop.
First started by Corona North, former owner of the gardens, Altamont now boasts one of Ireland’s largest collections, with more than 150 named varieties.
Guided tours, hosted by Office of Public Works head gardener Paul Cutler, take place each Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout February at 2pm – admission is a very reasonable €3.
Elsewhere in the county Galanthophiles can also catch the displays at Mount Wolseley Hotel near Tullow or snowdrop fun for all the family each weekend at Huntington Castle in Clonegal, close to Altamont Gardens.
Across the North Channel, the Snowdrop Festival runs until March 11 and sees 35 of Scotland’s finest gardens, woodlands, and estates open their doors for the 14th year of this acclaimed winter festival. Properties including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; Attadale Gardens in Wester Ross; Culzean Castle & Country Park in South Ayrshire; Dunvegan Castle & Gardens on the Isle of Skye; and Logan Botanic Garden in Stranraer will host over 70 walks, talks and activities to show off swathes of snowdrops to visitors.
In the Lake District in the north of England, witness the descendants of the snowdrops that once inspired Wordsworth, such as Grizedale Forest near Hawkshead where part of the woodlands overlook Coniston Water.
Not far away in Tarn Hows is another the perfect setting for walking among the snowdrops in a site special scientific interest, populated pine and spruce, which are home to red squirrels.
