I thought I’d do a near wordless post, having just held our annual snowdrop opening weekend for charity for the National Gardens Scheme (NGS). I last did a similar post in 2014, and it’s surprising how the garden has changed since then.
Quite intensive preparation, lots of baking for Fiona and hard work on the days, but lovely that so many people made the trek up here. As always we really enjoyed meeting you all, and the interesting conversations that ensued.
These snatched photos were taken before and after our visitors descended. No time whilst they were with us for photos unfortunately. Sadly, as is often the case for garden visitors here, the best light and views were when no one was actually here – in between our morning and afternoon groups’ departure and arrivals.
I hope that wherever you are in the world when you view this, you enjoy a mini virtual garden tour and a lovely glimpse of Welsh spring flowers.
thegardenimpressionists 
Thank you for this, Julian! And here in central Oregon, we are having snowFALL, not snowdrops, and 14 degrees F! Such a delight to see the blooms of your spring in the heart of Wales! Suzette
Hello Suzette,
Great to hear from you again. Difficult to imagine such harsh winters as you have – here’s hoping that things will warm up soon. BTW we were out walking with Jen who owns the Welsh Quilt centre yesterday. In case you’re interested this is very sadly going to be her very last exhibition this year, before she decides to call a halt for the quilt centre – it’s remarkable what she’s achieved over the years, and the exhibitions will be sorely missed by many, but it’s an exhausting task for someone in her late seventies with all the other responsibilities she has – so if you’re planning a return, make it before November, and tell all your friends to get over too!
best wishes
Julian
Just beautiful!
Thanks Marianne,
It was a great weekend, especially the Saturday and glad I got some decent pics of some of it.
best wishes
Julian
A stunning garden full of inspiration, your enthusiasm and baking were exceptional. Thank you both for the welcome and hospitality and for the wonderful garden tour.
Hello Sue,
Thanks for the very kind comment, and we really enjoyed meeting you both and being able to show you round – I’d love to come and have a look sometime at your snowdrops ( if you’re who I think you are!), but will email separately,
best wishes
Julian
Hello Sue, I seem to have lost your email contact details so this message through my blog. Thanks very much for the snowdrops which arrived just before last weekend, and are now safely planted up. Fiona hurt her neck just after your visit, which curtailed our plans to head down your way. Anyway do keep in touch – we’re thinking we might do pop up openings of the garden at other times of the year at short notice, so keep an eye o the blog, or drop me another email if you think you might like to come up again at a different season,
best wishes
Julian
I hope you had as many visitors as the fine display deserves.
Thanks TP, we were maximum numbers really for 3 of our 4 slots which was great and though a concentrated effort, well worth it,
best wishes
Julian
I have never seen so many snowdrops. It is an amazing spectacle. The snowdrops looked beautiful with the dark hellebore. I appreciate the hamamelis as I can’t grow them here and I love them. You seemed to be getting sunshine to set of the garden, what were the temperatures? Amelia
Thanks Amelia, I’ve gradually worked out that rather like planting trees, great displays of snowdrops take a long time to produce ( decades) and quite a lot of repetitive effort in splitting and replanting every year, which is why most good snowdrop displays have been either going for centuries, if really “wild”, or else in the gardens of elderly folk who’ve worked at it for a very long time! For the first time this year, quite a lot of areas in the garden have begun to look well covered. The temperatures weren’t bad this last weekend…around 8 to 9 so with little wind, but they’re set to plunge now with strong Easterlies. Which at least means we’ll be DRY!
best wishes
Julian
Amazing! What a delight to view and enjoy as we impatiently await for Spring to arrive!
Thanks Jane, glad you enjoyed the mini tour,
best wishes
Julian
Stunning pictures,I wish we lived closer to visit. I shall have to look you up on the map, we often holiday in Wales.
Hello Brian, We’re in North Carmarthenshire, up in the hills so South West Wales – it is a very unspoiled and quiet part of the world, which we love,
best wishes
Julian
Gorgeous photos, Julian. I miss Wales so much & am excited about returning in July 2019. We’ve had a couple of 70 degree days here in VA, so my crosuses, hellebores, witch hazel, sweet box and Edgeworthia have all started blooming. The daphne aren’t far behind. The glorious array of blooms is beginning after our harsh frigid winter. I’m anxious to see how much damage was done to the evergreens. It’s becoming evident now, but at least we have these beautiful bulbs that are emerging. God’s creation is truly amazing. Thank you for sharing your lovely garden with us.
Thanks Darla – great to hear you’re coming out of a harsh winter – bizarrely after very early flowering of some spring bulbs, everything is now on hold this week with us seeing bitter conditions and freeze drying Easterly winds – we have an Edgeworthia, which my fingers are crossed for… this spell might indeed see it off – that’s why I love the spring bulbs so much – real legacy plants, and indeed a week rarely goes by without me being amazed by something that I see up here!
best wishes
Julian
Your garden is beautiful, in a very intimate manner, a hidden world that I’m pleased you choose to share! It must also be incredibly rewarding to see all your hard work bearing fruit.
Thanks Noeline, it’s really only the last year or two when the garden has started to look as good as we could have hoped for…..occasionally. I think that’s part of the joy of all the mundane graft – once in a while the weather, and more crucially the light, conspire to raise it to a higher plane. But then wouldn’t it be boring if it looked fabulous all the time!
It is indeed a pleasure to share it – either physically, or on line with visitors,
best wishes
Julian