When is a snowdrop not a snowdrop? When it costs £50 or more for one bulb? Then, it’s either self indulgence or an investment – or it’s an infectious addiction! For there’s far more variation among snowdrops than first appears and snowdrop collectors will pay large sums of money for a special new variety. £1,390 per bulb? Yes, really.
Some varieties flower so early that by now they’re already over, while some flower so late they extend the snowdrop season well into spring. Some are fully double, some have all six petals the same length. Some have unusually large flowers, others have inner markings or outer petals with green flashes, and a few have yellow markings, instead of the usual green.
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A new plot for tasty crops
Taking on a new allotment needn't be hard work. By simply following a few easy tips you can have bumper crops in no time, just like Alessandro Vitale
We love July
July is an island floating between the joy of June and the slightly fatigued month of August. It's a grown-up month: the year has shrugged off its adolescent exuberances, the weather is (hopefully) warm enough for ice cream to be one of your five a day, the sea should be swimmable without (too much) danger of hypothermia and thoughts will be of holiday shenanigans and family barbecues. School's out this month, the next tranche of glorious summer colour is washing across our borders and it's my birthday. Lots of reasons to give three rousing cheers for July!
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