Tuesday 16 February 2016

Photo essay: snowdrops & other winter delights at Hodsock Priory

Our annual snowdrop pilgrimage saw us to return to Hodsock Priory this year (last year we visited Colesbourne Park), bringing our friends J-P and Kate with us.

Although it was a rather cloudy overcast day and bitterly cold, this didn't detract from the beauty and enjoyment we had of the snowdrops and other winter flowering plants.

Woodland Snowdrops




Some particularly large varieties of snowdrops, G. Kate & G. Gwenfar





Garden
 The gorgeous flowers of Prunus Mume






Hamamelis var. (witch hazel)


Kate, myself & J-P (top manspreading there J-P)

Reticulata iris

Pulmonaria and aconites

Galanthus Brenda Troyle





A lone Osteospermum flower in February. February.

Daphne

 The fragrance of Sarcococca, above, as well as Lonicera x purpusii 'Winter Beauty' (not pictured) wafted throughout the garden. It was truly magical wandering along such fragrant paths

Berries of Sarcococca

Prunus Mume, again (yes, I like)

Did I make any purchases? Well of course I did, and here they are:
Hellebore orientalis 'Harvington Dusky'

Galanthus Pusey Green Tip

Galanthus Viridapice

Cyclamen

There is still plenty of time to visit the Hodsock Priory snowdrops and the rest of the garden; they are open until Sunday 6th March, 10am-4pm daily. I hope the photographs show that it is well worth a visit. We will happily return again next year.