Scottish Snowdrop- Garden’s Hidden Gem
Just ahead of the multi-coloured crocuses or the bright yellow winter aconite comes the promise of spring, Snowdrops, or Galanthus (latin name) which are known as the hidden gems of the Scottish gardens. Sometimes referred to as Candlemas bells, appearing as they do around Candlemas(2nd February), it is sacred to the Celtic goddess Brigid, goddess of inspiration and health.
But this year, due to the cold snap, the flowers are likely to be blooming later than usual. Although many gardens have seasonal opening which are open to the public, usually from Easter to Autumn, the glory of the snowdrops is such that they open during the “snowdrop season”on certain dates. There are many different species of snowdrop,some of which are in bloom as early as October, although the main snowdrop season is February.
To view the tranquil beauty, the Scottish Snowdrop Festival brings over 50 historic homes, gardens and castles in Scotland. The Southern Scotland, Northern Scotland and the North of the Central Belt are some of the places where you can see and enjoy the popular feature of the garden.