Due to Chelsea Physic Garden’s unique warm microclimate, visitors will be able to see snowdrops in January, before the rest of the country, as part of the garden’s annual Snowdrop Festival.
Once again Head Gardener Nick Bailey and his team will be creating an innovative display, elevating the snowdrops so that visitors can admire their intricate details up close. This year, the garden has also promised an unexpected injection of colour to these typically white icons of spring.
The Snowdrop Trail will lead you around the garden’s collection of over 120 cultivars and species, highlighting their provenance, breeding and distinctive patterns, with a team of volunteer guides giving free tours of the garden’s displays and winter interest areas.
The Growing Friends volunteers will also be selling a huge selection of rare and unusual snowdrops and spring bulbs in the plant marquee, providing the public an opportunity to adorn their own gardens with interesting snowdrop cultivars.
The garden’s Tangerine Dream Café will be serving a selection of warming lunches and snacks and the Book & Gift Shop will be selling a range of garden and snowdrop-themed books and gifts.
Entry costs £10.50 for adults and £6.95 for children, students and jobseekers and is free to Friends of the Garden.
Throughout the event there will be snowdrop themed walks, talks and workshops including:
Joe Sharman, Monksilver Nurseries – Sensational Snowdrops talk, Saturday 28 January, 2.30pm in the Gallery above our Cafe. Please note that unfortunately there is no lift up to this room, only stairs. We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause.
Nick Bailey, Head Gardener – Best in Snow tour, Saturday 28 January, 11.30am and 1.30pm.
20 spaces available per tour on a first come, first served basis. Please sign up for these at the ticket kiosk.
John Grimshaw – Galanthus Galore talk, Sunday 29 January, 2.30pm in the Gallery above our Cafe. Please note that unfortunately there is no lift up to this room, only stairs. We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause.
Snowdrop-inspired one-day workshops (pre-booking required):
Sue Bishop – Photographing Snowdrops Sunday 29 January 10am – 4.30pm, £105 including lunch
Spend the day photographing snowdrops with expert advice on composition, light and techniques to help you develop your skills and capture these winter beauties in the Garden. With Sue Bishop, Photographer
Nick Bailey – Behind the Scenes Snowdrop Tour, Thursday 2 February, 11.30am-1pm, £29
Join Nick Bailey, Head Gardener, or another member of the senior gardening team on one of the monthly behind the scenes tours.
Explore areas of the Garden that are not usually open to the public and find out more about the work involved to manage a botanical collection
Lucy T Smith – Painting Snowdrops, Friday 10 February 9.30am – 4pm, £105 including lunch.
Admire snowdrops from a new perspective and learn how to capture their beauty in the medium of watercolour, with expert advice and assistance.
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