Now that we’re well past the longest night and the days are lengthening, you’ll see snowdrops already pushing up into the light to welcome in the spring,
Snowdrops are early risers and their hardened tips enable them to push through even the most frosted ground. The mini variety, ‘Athenae’ will have reliably made its appearance in time for Christmas and with careful selection it’s possible to have a snowy carpet running through your flower beds from January through to mid-March.
You can even give your lawn a light dusting of pure white blooms with varieties such as Galanthus ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’, a neat double with green markings that peaks in February, which holds the coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ‘Atkinsii’, which produces larger pear-shaped blooms with a bold inverted heart-like green mark at the tip on top of 20cm stalks, can be relied upon to make a beautiful sight on a crisp morning. While snowdrops look fabulous naturalised enmasse in the garden, some are best grown in pots on a pedestal. They will delight for around five weeks so use them to decorate your doorstep by filling pots with snowdrops and the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, combo ideal for a contemporary-style garden in an urban setting.
There are hundreds of different kinds with subtly different petal shapes and markings. Rare forms with yellow markings are very collectable. Leaves also vary from one variety to another and many blooms are scented.
この記事は WOMAN'S WEEKLY の January 31,2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は WOMAN'S WEEKLY の January 31,2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Patchwork PROJECTS
Easy ideas to show off English paper-piecing techniques
Night train to BERLIN
Germany's exciting and varied capital is now reachable by train from the UK
French FANCY
Raymond Blanc's right-hand man, Benoit Blin's favourite bakes
Are you missing out on BENEFITS?
Here's how to find out what you are eligible for
TRAY bien
All-in-one tray bakes, packed with flavour
We took a grown-up GAP YEAR!
Who says taking time out is just for students?
'I'm obsessed with reality TV!'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Author and presenter Louise Minchin
What to eat and do for A HEALTHIER GUT
Fix those problems and boost your wellbeing
Picture palaces
In an age of cinema complexes, we celebrate five historic and beautiful picture houses that have stood the test of time
'My diet during Bake Off is cake and alcohol!'
Dame Prue Leith on the popular baking contest