Among the 9,000 snowdrops on display at Barnsdale Gardens is this beautiful semi-double variety with long, thin pointed outer segments. Isn’t she a beauty! Such a pretty name too, ‘Starling.’ I spotted it right at the start of our winter walk-and-talk event hosted by Barnsdale owner Nick Hamilton. Once seen, never forgotten. I’m not much of a galanthophile, but Starling captivated me. Such an unusual snowdrop with dark green inner segments and a lovely growth habit, having flowers that tilt upwards which means you don’t have to get down on your hands and knees to appreciate them.
Many of the special snowdrops are displayed in a raised bed surrounded by gravel. Rain doesn’t splash them with mud. Heavy rain has been such a problem this winter and many snowdrops in my garden have either been swamped or munched by slugs. I hadn’t thought of growing them in this way, but I might try it out in a spare corner of the garden.
Galanthus Hippolyta is also thriving and forming a good substantial clump. This is one of the Greatorex doubles, ‘beautifully formed with rounded bells, filled with green edged petticoats’ says the information on a five-page fact sheet supplied by the gardens. All the snowdrops are carefully and clearly labelled and the fact sheet is a great help with identifying all the different varieties.
Snowdrops are just one of the attractions in the Winter Border. This garden was created in memory of Nick’s father Geoff Hamilton who presented the BBC Gardeners World show from the site until his death in 1996.
Paths are lined with evergreens, scented plants, and trees and shrubs with colourful bark for winter interest.
The beauty of having a walk- and-talk tour is seeing the plot through expert’s eyes, and picking up hints and tips on cultivation. Nick explains that these beautiful willows produce the best colour on new stems. Plants will be pruned virtually to the ground or to a low stump so that new stems will grow for next winter’s display.
Willows certainly make a design statement, and Nick advises to plant them where the sun shines through them to highlight their bright colours.
Whereas the willows are quite drastically trimmed, Nick advises a more selective approach for pruning these dogwoods. I have similar Cornus Midwinter Fire, and carefully trim back the side shoots and gently shape up the plants. Cornus Westonbirt which has bright red stems are pruned virtually to the ground, but these orange-stemmed dogwoods take a long time to recover if pruned too severely.
Information boards are posted throughout the garden which help our understanding of the reasoning behind the plantings.
It was fascinating to walk around the garden spotting all the trees, shrubs, bulbs and perennials donated to the memorial garden. Gordon Rae is a good friend of the family, and mine, and his name crops up several times with collections of different snowdrops, for example. I noticed trees from Hilliers and plants from TV and radio gardener Martin Fish- among many others.
I particularly love this view of the bandstand and terracotta urn.
Winter flowering cherries also looking very cheerful and brighten up a cold wet day.
This little Iris Harmony pops up in patches all over the garden.
Nick Hamilton took over the garden when Geoff died and has continued to plant and develop the plot. There are 38 individual gardens over an 8 acre site.
We continued the tour through the Woodland garden, and on to the impressive vegetable plots where courses are held throughout the year on growing fruit and vegetables and pruning. The gardens are run along organic lines, as Geoff set out to do. Nick continues to grow organically without chemicals and with wildlife in mind.
Nick explains how fruit trees can be grown in small spaces by choosing dwarfing rootstocks and by pruning.
These espalier fruit trees take up little space and form an attractive shape throughout the year. There will be blossom in spring and apples and pears in late summer.
These small fruit trees are part of the Dan Pearson cottage garden.
I couldn’t resist a peep inside that beautiful little greenhouse.
I found scented pelargoniums, some still in flower in February.
And succulents and cacti, alongside trays of seedlings growing on for planting out later in spring.
I must mention the cafe, which served a very tasty and substantial cooked breakfast before our tour. I don’t usually eat a hot breakfast, but tried the vegetarian menu and can highly recommend it. A lovely warm start to a few hours spent walking around the gardens. And there was just time to try the tea and cakes at the end of our tour! It would have been rude not to sample them! The lemon sponge is divine!
For more information on Nick’s walk and talks and other events through the year take a look at the website here:
https://barnsdalegardens.co.uk/
I’ll be going back for more events. There’s plenty on offer for Mother’s Day on 10th March and Easter between 29th March and 1st April (including Easter egg hunts for children). The gardens open all year round, only closing at Christmas, 24th, 25th and 26th December.
Note: I was invited to this event as a guest. I’ve given my honest review of the morning. I can highly recommend the ‘walk and talk’ events. A lovely breakfast followed by a wander around a beautiful garden is just what’s needed after such a cold, dark, wet winter, just as the garden is starting to wake up and shine. I feel invigorated to add much more colour to my own plot. And I’m searching for that very pretty snowdrop.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this ‘winter tour’ of Barnsdale Gardens. Have any of you visited in winter? I’ve only ever visited in summer before, so it was a revelation how much there’s to see. Get in touch and share your favourite part of Barnsdale. I haven’t even mentioned the Paradise Garden! That will wait for next time….
Bramble Garden 
It’s a lovely garden for winter and early spring interest. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you Cathy. It was so good to get out in the fresh air and hear lots of birdsong. Heavy frost today. At least we haven’t had the snow many have had. Enjoy your Sunday! Xx
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Another well written piece Thanks Karen!
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Thank you! Thanks for reading.
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A comprehensive written tour with your lovely photos. The final visit to the tearoom was most inviting. I did like seeing the varieties of snowdrops. While obviously being of one genus, they are distinctive in their differences.
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Thank you. Yes that little tea room overlooks the garden. I could have sat there all day watching the wildlife. There are bird tables just outside the window and I lost count of the number of finches feeding there! The snowdrops were lovely to see and so nice to have proper labels so you could identify them all. Thanks for reading. Karen xx
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A comprehensive written tour with your lovely photos. The final visit to the tearoom was most inviting. I did like seeing the varieties of snowdrops. While obviously being of one genus, they are distinctive in their differences.
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Hi Karen Enjoyed walk through the snowdrops ,especially variety starling, must look out for it.Bought cornus midwinter fire last year ,now living in a pot ,so intrested in pruning info _ very helpful…thanks very much ,Jean
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Hello Jean, thank you for reading the blog. Yes, that snowdrop is a must-buy. It looks like a good garden variety. Some of them are not strong growers and it’s disappointing when they disappear after planting! I’ve got several of those midwinter fire. Three aren’t pruned at all to be honest, and one is just tip pruned to keep it in shape. Have a lovely weekend. Karen
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Love this, especially the display of Snowdrops. We always wait each winter for them to appear, announcing that Springtime is near. They are present here now (northeastern USA), bringing us much needed hope!
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I love this, especially that display of Snowdrops. I wait every winter for them to make their presence known, a reliable messenger of springtime. They are with us here now (northeast USA), giving us much needed hope!!!
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Love this! Especially that display of Snowdrops! I wait every winter for them to make their presence known, letting us know that springtime is within reach. They are appearing here now ( in northeast USA), giving us all much needed hope!
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Looks lovely, Karen, despite the rain – although it enhanced the extra special G. Starling. Wish I’d joined you! See you soon. Mary xx
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Wish you had been there Mary. See you soon, when the rain stops! love karen xx
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Interesting about the Cornus, as I’m just thinking about pruning mine – I’ve got C. sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and C. alba ‘sibirica variegata’. I know Midwinter Fire isn’t as resilient or vigorous as some of the other varieties, but at the same time, many gardens do stool it successfully, and it looks best done that way. You’ve made me a bit nervous though!
Geoff Hamilton was a big inspiration to me (a hero, you might say). It’s good to see his son continuing the tradition. I really must get to Barnsdale soon.
Glad you enjoyed the tour. I enjoyed your post, and the photos are great.
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this is lovely Karen and reminds me how much I should get a visit to Barnsdale on our schedule. such respect for what Nick has done and of course greatest respect for his dad, who was my kind of gardener. the winter garden looks beautiful.
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Thanks for the inspiration Karen, This would be a useful thing for my husband and I to do to get me walking a bit again. Much appreciated! Suella
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Thank you Suella. It’s nice that it’s not too far to travel either. The view of Rutland Water is also really lovely. You probably know, but you drive along one side of the lake to get to the garden. I can really recommend that little cafe too. Locally sourced food. Lots of vegetarian and vegan choices. I noticed it was 5 stars for hygiene. I always look for the stars. Can’t risk being ill on top of everything else! So a nice walk with plenty of places to sit, followed by a cup of tea and cake. Highly recommended! Very cheering after such a horrible wet winter. Karen xx
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The garden looks as good now as during the summer as always a very inspirational place. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you Brian. Yes, it’s very popular in summer. I’ve been several times. But now it’s on my calendar for winter visits too! Thanks for reading. All the best. Karen
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This garde
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What a lovely tour!
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Thank you Anne, I had such a lovely time in that garden! So nice to get out and about in winter and see cheerful sights! Xx
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Just the tour to get the juices flowing. 🙂 I love the Salix, a beautiful thing in winter… too bad the deer browse mine down!
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Thank you Eliza. That Salix was really wonderful. I’m looking for some small plants to get started. Would look lovely next to my pond, reflected in the water. I didn’t realise deer like them….. luckily our cocker spaniel puts them off coming into the garden. Have a great weekend. Karen x
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