A few years ago, a friend gave me a barely liftable, large trug of snowdrops. I was very, very grateful and happily began adding them to the Priory’s meagre showing. Eventually running out of time, I temporarily stuffed the last few into a small bed beneath a standard Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_2416](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-LJTQMp.jpeg)
And there they temporarily sat – for three years or so; neglected, multiplying, annoying. Plonked amongst heucheras, they looked out-of-place and then messy as they slowly died back after flowering.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_2412](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-Gv1hr7.jpeg)
In April 2014, I finally dug them up.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_2418](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-PaTj1N.jpeg)
And then dug up some more – there were far more than I expected. A little neglect does wonders for increasing your stock, it seems … and produced a second surfeit of snowdrops. (Now’s the time to dig up, divide and replant snowdrops ‘in the green’ – before, during and after flowering. You might quake at digging up flowering plants and I normally wait until they finish, but they won’t mind).
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_2421](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-qAUyxM.jpeg)
Afterwards, the ‘Eve’ bed looked simpler and neater – especially after a top coat of leaf mold. (The heucheras fill this space later in the year).
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_2423](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-dtJprW.jpeg)
Most of this second bonanza of snowdrops went into new planting squares beneath the extended rose tunnel. I used a bulb planter and filled the bottom of each hole with leaf mold. If I was over generous with the number of snowdrops I dropped into each hole (and I was) another surfeit in a couple of years wouldn’t be so very terrible.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_2424](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-L7skX5.jpeg)
I back-filled with a mix of more leaf mold and garden compost, soaked well, stood back, studied the horizon, waited 10 months
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1193](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-Yqt1_i.jpeg)
and up they came.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1195](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-X7vdF8.jpeg)
Some of the original planting pockets are now overspilling but I’ll divide and replant these galanthus soon (there’s only so many times I can use the word snowdrop).
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_2429](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-juKyy2.jpeg)
I put more of last year’s excess beneath a newly planted dogwood hedge and – though newly transplanted snowdrops don’t look very promising –
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1150](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-emtxSL.jpeg)
these too are now in flower.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1130](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-OGRBfG.jpeg)
Whoever planted the beech hedge had the same idea but failed to take into account how long beech leaves hang around. The under-planting of snowdrops is lost somewhat; the flowers almost invisible.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1204](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-Hq2rlM.jpeg)
But I haven’t the heart to move them – they seem happy and I, at least, know that they are there.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1146](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-OXuvFv.jpeg)
I’d like the Priory to have large drifts of snowdrops, planted into grass. I had enough surplus ‘drops last year to start planting the slope beneath the greenhouses (lots more needed here)
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1154](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-1sLPr7.jpeg)
and a paltry handful for under the big trees on the meadow (more than lots needed here).
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1152](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-wS0bJc.jpeg)
Thankfully, there are several ‘spare’ clumps earmarked for the meadow and the slope. There’s these in a neglected area.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1140](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-PHt8_4.jpeg)
There are more skulking, unloved, beneath a rhododendron,
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1151](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-PkDntx.jpeg)
a venerable cluster in need of division on a lawn
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1137](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-T96lWc.jpeg)
and a large grouping in one of the borders. I filch snowdrops from this patch every year but the supply seems to hold constant.
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1163](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-3vDhsX.jpeg)
Increasing the number of snowdrops at the Priory has become an ongoing, long-term duty
![March Of Snowdrops DSM_1171](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/115/1155277/march-of-snowdrops-L-E3H0dT.jpeg)
and I hope that when I leave the Priory, I can leave a legacy of widespread, white and green, nodding carpets.
I had best stop daydreaming and get on with it.