Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is a retail nursery located in Bryn Mawr, PA, specializing in showy, colorful, and unusual plants for shade. The only plants that we ship are snowdrops. For catalogues and announcements of local events, please send your full name, mailing address, and cell number to carolyn@carolynsshadegardens.com and indicate whether you are mail order only. Click here to get to the home page of our website for catalogues and information about our nursery and to subscribe to our blog.
Every photo in this collage is of a giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii, in my garden. The differences in the markings are caused by the natural variation in the species. None of them have been selected and given a cultivar name, although many plants like them have been named, probably too many. Yet I find this variation fascinating.
Our current snowdrop catalogue is on line here.
To be put on the special snowdrop email list, please send your full name, cell number, and mailing address to carolyn@carolynsshadegardens.com and indicate that you are interested in snowdrops.
In this post you will find links to and descriptions of every post I have written on snowdrops. The original purpose of this post was to let readers know that The Hardy Plant Society Mid-Atlantic Group honored me by asking me to write an article on snowdrops for their newsletter. It is called “Confessions of a Galanthophile” and is the Feature Article for the January 2013 Newsletter. You can access the on line version by clicking here.
Galanthus gracilis, an elegant species snowdrop.
While letting you know about the Hardy Plant Society article, which makes use of parts of some of my previous blog posts, I thought this post would be a good place to list all the articles that I have written on snowdrops for easy reference. I have interspersed the article names and links with photos of some of my favorite snowdrops.
A very unusual and pricey newer snowdrop with squared off outer segments, ‘Diggory’.
November 22, 2010
“Snowdrops or the Confessions of a Galanthophile”
origins of galanthomania, fall-blooming snowdrops
profiles G. reginae-olgae and ‘Potter’s Prelude’
click here to read
G. reginae-olgae blooms in the fall with ‘Shell Pink’ lamium.
January 22, 2011
“Snowdrops: Further Confessions of a Galanthophile”
fascinating history of snowdrop cultivars
short profiles of 16 snowdrop cultivars
click here to read
Galanthus rizehensis, a species snowdrop.
February 9, 2011
“Are Snowdrops Thermogenic?”
discusses plants that produce their own heat
click here to read
The shiny bright green leaves of the species snowdrop G. woronowii.
January 19, 2012
“New Snowdrops for 2012”
importance of provenance in snowdrop collecting
profiles ‘Brenda Troyle’, ‘Tiny’, ‘Hippolyta’, ‘Dionysus’, and G. plicatus subsp. byzantinus
click here to read
The lovely American, fall-blooming snowdrop ‘Potter’s Prelude’.
January 7, 2013
‘New Snowdrops for 2013″
where to find information on snowdrops
profiles ‘Wendy’s Gold’, ‘Standing Tall’, ‘Mighty Atom’, and ‘Scharlockii’
click here to read
A new American snowdrop introduced by Carolyn’s Shade Gardens, Galanthus elwesii ‘Xmas’
The Hardy Plant Society Mid-Atlantic Group
January 2013 Newsletter
“Confessions of a Galanthophile”
why gardeners collect snowdrops
click here to read
‘Straffan’, photo by Jonathan Shaw
January 5, 2014
“The Un-Common Snowdrop”
the common snowdrop and its cultivars
profiles G. nivalis, ‘Flore Pleno’, ‘Viridapice’, and ‘Blewbury Tart’
click here to read
My favorite single classic snowdrop, ‘Magnet’.
January 16, 2014
“The Sochi Snowdrop”
G. woronowii and its cultivars
profiles G. woronowii and ‘Elizabeth Harrison’
click here to read
‘Kite’, very early-blooming with extremely long outer segments.
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‘Kite’ can have twin flowers on one flower stalk.
January 27, 2014
“Top 25 Snowdrop Plants Part One”
UK ranking of top 25 all-time favorite snowdrops
profiles and photos of snowdrops ranked 13 to 25
click here to read
‘Godfrey Owen’ has six outer segments.
February 4, 2014
“Top 25 Snowdrop Plants Part Two”
UK ranking of top 25 all-time favorite snowdrops
profiles and photos of snowdrops ranked 1 to 12
click here to read
The gorgeous double yellow snowdrop ‘Lady Elphinstone’
December 2, 2014
“Do All Snowdrops Look Alike?”
shows the many very different types of snowdrops available
photos of 14 strikingly different cultivars
click here to read
Although considered ordinary by some, ‘Viridapice’ remains one of my favorite snowdrops.
December 9, 2014
“New Snowdrops for 2015”
profiles ‘Blonde Inge’, ‘Diggory’, ‘Walrus’, and ‘Wasp’
click here to read
‘Cowhouse Green’ is a lovely part virescent snowdrop.
January 5, 2015
“Companion Plants for Snowdrops”
snowdrops are great alone but look even better with other winter interest plants
profiles 10 winter-blooming plants to pair with snowdrops
click here to read
‘Walrus’ is ranked number 12 in all-time favorite snowdrops.
January 14, 2015
“New Snowdrop Book”
Kew Gardens A Plant Lover’s Guide to Snowdrops
review with images from the book
click here to read
An unusual form of spring snowflake with yellow markings, Leucojum vernum var. carpathicum.
March 17, 2016
“Snowflakes (Leucojum) Continue the Snowdrop Season”
profiles many unusual forms of snowflakes, a close relative of snowdrops
click here to read
Some of my special snowdrops that I want to keep well marked.
December 6, 2016
“Curating a Plant Collection: Snowdrops or Otherwise”
how to keep track of your growing snowdrop collection
click here to read
The naturally blue lake at Colesborne Park below a hillside of snowdrops.
March 3, 2017
“Drifts of Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park”
photos and descriptions of our February 2017 trip to the famous English snowdrop venues
click here to read
March 15, 2017
“Snowdrops at the Royal Horticultural Society Spring Show”
setting up the Avon Bulbs snowdrop exhibit at the February 2017 show in London
click here to read
‘Fly Fishing’
November 18, 2017
“New Snowdrops for 2018”
profiles of ‘Ailwyn’, ‘Angelique’, ‘Bertram Anderson’, ‘Greenish’, ‘Fly Fishing’, and ‘Colossus’
click here to read
‘South Hayes’
November 28, 2017
“New Snowdrops for 2018 Part Two”
profiles of ‘Jonathan’, ‘Madelaine’, ‘Mrs. Macnamara’, ‘Welshway’, ‘South Hayes’, and ‘Titania’
click here to read
‘Lapwing’ has a great mark and is a vigorous multiplier.
December 5, 2017
“Fine Gardening Feature Article on Snowdrops”
reprint of my cover article for the February 2016 issue of Fine Gardening
click here to read
Snowdrops and hellebores along the path to a folly at Painswick.
December 29, 2017
“Painswick Rococo Garden”
tour of winter garden and snowdrops at Painswick Rococo Gardens
click here to read
John Morley welcomes us to the gardens at North Green Snowdrops.
January 15, 2018
“North Green Snowdrops”
tour of the snowdrop garden at North Green Snowdrops
click here to read
The best place to see snowdrops in England is Colesbourne Park in the Cotswolds.
March 7, 2018
“Exceptional Snowdrops and Gardens, England February 2018”
highlights of winter gardens and snowdrops in England
click here to read
Rodmarton Manor has an extensive snowdrop collection in its Arts and Crafts garden.
March 20, 2018
“Rodmarton Manor Garden”
tour of Rodmarton Manor’s winter garden and snowdrop collection
click here to read
‘Sprite’ is a beautiful and distinct snowdrop selected at Avon Bulbs.
March 25, 2018
“A Day in the Life of an Avon Bulbs Snowdrop”
introduction of new snowdrops at Avon Bulbs in England
click here to read
‘Art Nouveau’ has a unique and elegant look.
November 13, 2018
“New Snowdrops for 2019: Part One”
profiles of ‘Godfrey Owen’, ‘Barnes’, ‘Art Nouveau’, ‘Armine’, ‘Puck’, and ‘Sprite’
click here to read
‘Richard Ayres’ is a large and vigorous double.
November 27, 2018
“New Snowdrops for 2019: Part Two”
profiles of ‘Richard Ayres’, ‘Green Brush’, ‘Faringdon Double’, ‘Merlin’, ‘Trym’, and ‘Starling’
click here to read
‘Three Ships’ is a gorgeous G. plicatus that blooms around Christmas.
December 11, 2018
“Your February 2019 Snowdrop Trip to England”
planning a trip to England during snowdrop season
click here to read
‘Xmas’ was selected, named, and introduced by Carolyn’s Shade Gardens.
October 23, 2019
“Early-Blooming Snowdrops”
profiles G. reginae olgae, ‘Potter’s Prelude’, ‘Barnes’, ‘Standing Tall’, and ‘Xmas’
click here to read
‘S. Arnott’ is the favorite snowdrop of galanthophiles everywhere.
November 2, 2020
“Classic Snowdrops”
profiles ‘Atkinsii’, ‘S. Arnott’, ‘Merlin’, ‘Hill Poe’, and ‘Scharlockii’
click here to read
‘One Drop or Two?’ is a rare twin-flowered snowdrop.
November 14, 2020
“New Snowdrops for 2021”
profiles ‘Beth Chatto’, ‘Bill Clark’, ‘Bagpuize Virginia’, ‘Fieldgate Prelude’, ‘Natalie Garton’, ‘Pom Pom’, and ‘One Drop or Two?’
click here to read
“Sarah Dumont’ has gorgeous yellow markings.
November 21, 2020
“New Snowdrops for 2021: Part 2”
profiles ‘Sarah Dumont’, G. nivalis subsp. poculiformis, ‘Green Arrow’, ‘Moortown Mighty’, ‘Wonston Double’, and ‘Trympostor’
click here to read
‘E.A. Bowles’ looks like a white miniature daffodil.
November 13, 2021
“New Snowdrops for 2022: Part 1”
profiles ‘E.A. Bowles’, ‘The Wizard’, ‘Mrs. Thompson’, ‘Cordelia’, and ‘Phantom’
click here to read
New snowdrop reference book
November 17, 2022
“Some Snowdrops: A photographic Ramble by Anne Repnow”
profiles ‘Three Ships’, ‘Standing Tall’, ‘Wasp’, and ‘Godfrey Owen’ and reviews a wonderful new snowdrop book
click here to read
‘Midas’ is a color breakthrough for snowdrops.
November 20, 2021
“New Snowdrops for 2022: Part 2”
profiles ‘Midas’, ‘Augustus’, ‘Cowhouse Green’, ‘Desdemona’, ‘Moses Basket’, and ‘Rodmarton Arcturus’
click here to read
‘Walker Canada’ is big and beautiful.
November 19, 2022
“New Snowdrops for 2023: Part 1”
profiles ‘June Boardman’, G. reginae-olgae, ‘Rodmarton’, ‘Scissors’, and ‘Walker Canada’
click here to read
‘Rosemary Burnham’, an elegant virescent snowdrop
November 26, 2023
“New Snowdrops for 2023: Part 2”
profiles ‘Rosemary Burnham’, ‘Cambridge’, ‘Colossus’, ‘Betty Hansell’, and ‘Warwickshire Gemini’
click here to read
The moat at Benington Lordship Castle
November 11, 2023
“Snowdrops and History at Benington Lordship Gardens”
A 12th century castle near Cambridge, England, with a moat full of snowdrops
click here to read
The walls of Wandlebury Ring enclose tens of thuosands of G. plicatus.
November 19, 2023
“Wandlebury Ring”
An iron age hillfort outside of Cambridge, England, with a naturalized population of G. plicatus
click here to read
‘Phil Cornish’ may be the most beautiful inverse poculiform snowdrop.
November 26, 2023
“New Snowdrops for 2024: Part 1
profiles ‘Anglesey Candlelight’, ‘Phil Cornish’, ‘Daphne’s Scissors’, ‘Franz Josef’, and ‘George Elwes’
click here to read
‘Miss Prissy’ is a very full and neat double that faces outward.
November 28, 2023
“New Snowdrops for 2024: Part 2
profiles ‘Miss Prissy’, ‘Excelsis’, ‘Big Bertha’, ‘Washfield Colesbourne’, and ‘Ivy Cottage Corporal’
click here to read
‘John Gray’ is an outstanding member of the “Might Atom” group of snowdrops
December 3, 2023
“New Snowdrops for 2024: Part 3”
profiles ‘Marjorie Brown’, ‘Fenstead End’, Trumpolute’, ‘Big Eyes’, and ‘John Gray’
click here to read
‘Standing Tall’ is an American selection with a distinct habit.
December 20, 2023
“December Blooming Snowdrops”
profiles ‘Potter’s Prelude’, Standing Tall’, ‘Three Ships’, and ‘Xmas’
click here to read
‘Spindlestone Surprise’ is a lovely yellow.
March 20, 2024
“Snowdrops: Live Radio Interview”
live interview of Carolyn with a lot of information about snowdrops
click here to listen
‘Mrs. Thompson’s’ erratic flowers are a plus.
2024 Snowdrop Catalogue
Over 40 varieties of snowdrops and snowflakes plus winter aconite for sale mail order in the US
click here to access
‘Blonde Inge’ is breathtaking in a mass and bulks up quickly.
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All the posts as well as the catalogue itself, provide interesting and informative reading on subjects ranging from the origins of galanthomania, the fascinating history of snowdrops, their provenance, how to research them, and even whether they produce their own heat. I intend to add titles and links through the years as I write more about one of my favorite topics.
Enjoy, Carolyn
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Note: Every word that appears in orange on my blog is a link that you can click for more information. If you want to return to my blog’s homepage to access the sidebar information (catalogues, previous articles, etc.) or to subscribe to my blog, just click here.
CAROLYN'S SHADE GARDENS 