SNOWDROP FESTIVAL
EAST LAMBROOK MANOR GARDEN'S
FABULOUS FESTIVAL OF SNOWDROPS Throughout February Somerset’s famous cottage garden at East Lambrook Manor will be celebrating the snowdrop season once again with its fourth Festival of Snowdrops. This is an opportunity to enjoy a stroll through a beautiful winter snowdrop garden and view its extensive collection of unusual snowdrop varieties, many of which will be used to create displays that can be appreciated at close quarters. Galanthus, better known as snowdrops, have long been a feature of the garden, ever since the celebrated plantswoman Margery Fish created the iconic cottage garden in the 1940s, 50s and 60s and started collecting rare snowdrops. She planted them in an area she named The Ditch, which she and husband Walter landscaped from the drainage channel between two orchards. ‘It’s such a welcome sight to see the sides of The Ditch carpeted with snowdrops in February,’ says current owner Mike Werkmeister, ‘and it’s where all the unusual snowdrops named for the garden or previous owners were found, most notably Galanthus ‘Margery Fish’ and G. ‘Walter Fish’. The garden has a collection of around 150 different named varieties and many of these are used to make a special display in a raised bed enabling visitors to appreciate the subtle and often not so subtle difference between them all. ‘Unless you are a collector, better known as a ‘galanthophile’, you are probably not aware of how varied they can be, so visitors are often amazed by the different shapes and colours of the flowers.’ says Mike. ‘We aim to put on one of the best displays of named snowdrops in the South West.’ Snowdrop tours for small groups will offer an interesting introduction to the genus and highlight some of the favourite snowdrops in the garden and around 90 varieties will be on sale in the nursery along with hellebores and other spring plants. Sculptor Chris Kampf will also be exhibiting his popular steel snowdrops. Visitors should check the website for the latest information.
Visit the beautiful cottage garden of gardening legend Margery Fish to enjoy the: * Snowdrop Ditch * Snowdrop displays * Snowdrop sculptures * Snowdrops for sale * Snowdrop tours *
The garden is open Tuesday to Sunday throughout the festival from 10am to 5pm. Garden entry £6.50, over 65s £6.00, under 16s free, tours £3.00, RHS members have free entry on Wednesdays. No charge if just visiting the nursery. The annual NGS Snowdrop Open Day is on Thursday 10 February, with all entry money going to charity. East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, East Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH enquiries@eastlambrook.com; www.eastlambrook.com.
T J US TE S U N I HE 4 M OM T 3 R 0 F A3 H T
OU AT S ERTON H PET
Festival of Snowdrops 1st to 27th February
Over 125 varieties of snowdrop with many rare snowdrops for sale. Garden and nursery open Tues- Sun | 10am- 5pm Entry £6.50 | Over 65s £6.00 | Groups £5.75 | U16s free East Lambrook | South Petherton | Somerset | TA13 5HH 01460 240328 | enquiries@eastlambrook.com Walk in or book online at eastlambrook.com
* Tours subject to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions.
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