Snowdrop events 2011

[KentGardener]

Hello everyone (posters and readers  )

I am posting to ask for help.  The German Oirlich event has appealed to me for the last couple of years and reading Hagan's article in the RHS Daffodil, Snowdrop and Tulip booklet this year has convinced me I really must try to get there in February 2011.

But looking on maps it doesn't look possible to get there by public transport.  I am wondering if either someone is driving from the UK and would like a passenger to share the fuel costs - or whether someone from mainland Europe is driving and will be staying in a hotel that I could get to by flying and train - and then ask for a lift in their car on the day of the Oirlich snowdrop event?

Please PM or email me if you can help.

Many thanks

[Alan_b]

Hanneke van Dijk in association with Dutch tour operator "Garden Tours" are planning a coach tour, "Snowdrop tour for British Galanthophiles to Belgium and Germany" in 2011.  The overall program runs from February 25th to March 2nd and includes a visit to Orlich on the morning of Sunday 27th February.  You make your own way to Brussels and then a coach will take you everywhere.  If anyone would like more details please send me a Personal Message.     

[KentGardener]

Thanks Alan - yes I've seen that - sounds an interesting trip - but €895 basic cost + €180 extra for single room + train fares to Brussels (approx £60) is a bit beyond my price range for a 5 day trip  

I hope I can find a way to do just the German event slightly cheaper than £1000.  

[mark smyth]

£1000!  that's me out also

[Alan_b]

Thanks Alan - yes I've seen that - sounds an interesting trip - but €895 basic cost + €180 extra for single room + train fares to Brussels (approx £60) is a bit beyond my price range for a 5 day trip

Yes indeed, you could buy a lot of snowdrops for the same amount of money (or a few of the really expensive ones).  But it includes five nights in hotels, all meals and transport around Belgium and Germany, so surely represents more value per pound/euro than some of those expensive snowdrops?

[KentGardener]

The way I am thinking of it Alan is that I can get 21 days in Madeira, including flights hotels and half my food - all for £800 - a much better use of my money to my thrifty mind.

I wish I did have that kind of money sitting around, as an organised coach trip would certainly make things easier, but I just don't have £1000 to spend on the trip (or on snowdrops either!   Hopefully I may find a way to visit the German Oirlich event that is more within my budget.

[Alan_b]

Yes, that makes perfect sense to me, John, but we galanthophiles do have an unfortunate tendency to throw financial prudence out the window when snowdrops become involved.  21 days in Madeira sounds very nice. 

[Valentin Wijnen]

Hello everybody

The Belgian event 'Snowdrop weekend 2011' will take place in the magnificent Arboretum Kalmthout on Saturday the 26th and  Sunday the 27th of February 2011. Nice programm!

Have a look at:
http://www.provant.be/kalender/vrije_tijd/domeinen/arboretum_kalmthout/collecties/hamamelis/2011_02_26_sneeuwklokjesweeken.jsp?module=tcm:7-12959-4&page=2&referer=tcm:7-20462-64

Kind regards

Valentin Wijnen

[KentGardener]

Of course there is the not to be missed RHS London show:

"RHS London Plant and Design Show"
Tuesday February 15th 2011 - 10am to 7pm
Wednesday February 16th 2011 - 10am to 5pm

A few snaps from previous years to tempt you to be there.  

[Alan_b]

I have mixed feelings about the RHS London Show in February (although I usually do go):

Pro
Often used to launch "new" snowdrops that will not be commercially available for some years.
You will see people from this forum and lots of snowdrop luminaries.
Snowdrops on display in warm and dry conditions.
Accessible by public transport.
Lots of other winter plants on sale.
Everything clearly labelled.

Con
Usually only two or three stands with interesting snowdrops.
Event gets very crowded; snowdrop stands attract a crowd and can be difficult to view.
Only the more readily-available snowdrops actually on sale.
Frantic atmosphere, little hope of a relaxed chat with the people you meet.
Only accessible by public transport; anything you buy has to survive the journey home.

[steve owen]

Alan
I agree with your pros and cons; here are four more pros;
1. (Generally) at least two stands (especially Avon and Foxgrove) have display groupings of different varieties so that comparisons can be made between the sometimes subtle variations. I can't think of any other Shows where this occurs (can Maggie or Ian confirm whether any of the Scottish shows provide a similar oppportunity?)
2. At viewable and photographable height (I assure you this is a considerable plus if you have a replacement knee).
3. Its dry and its warm and the light is good!
4. It's good to see fellow snowdrop enthusiasts behaving like the plants and surfacing after a lengthy period of dormancy.
Steve

[Maggi Young]

1. (Generally) at least two stands (especially Avon and Foxgrove) have display groupings of different varieties so that comparisons can be made between the sometimes subtle variations. I can't think of any other Shows where this occurs (can Maggie or Ian confirm whether any of the Scottish shows provide a similar opportunity?)

Well Steve, there aren't any nurseries in Scotland really specialising in these plants and the distance invloved would be a hindrance to the Southern folks coming up here, even if there were no more local opportunities for them to display their wares. That said, we do have the chance for anyone , nurseryman or private grower to ask a show for  display space to mount an exhibition (non-competitive in the strict show sense, though such an effort may receive a medal from the judges) of  mixed plants of or  a single genus.   
It is usually private persons who put on such displays.... someone with a National collection of chionodoxa for instance.

[emma T]

Another pro , the smell from the snowdrops in the hall is heavenly 

[mark smyth]

Hanneke van Dijt asked me today to add details of her snowdrop trip to my web site. The details are are here
http://www.snowdropinfo.com/europetrip.htm

Hanneke's new book Galanthomania is out at the end of January from Amazon and all other good book stores.

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Mark, though I haven't full details as yet..... there will be a Snowdrop Day  at the RBGE, (with Snowdrop Walks that weekend) on the day before the SRGC Early Bulb Day....that would be the 18th February for the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, event and the 19th for the Early Bulb Day in Dunblane.

 Further details of this event are now available...

On Friday 18th  February 2011 the SRGC, in partnership with RBGE , Cambo Snowdrops and Christie's Nursery, will host a one day Snowdrop Conference  at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.


 see here :

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6300.0