Included with admission
Come and celebrate half term by seeing our incredible and extensive variety of Snowdrops or Galanthus (est - 100,000s). Snowdrop bulbs have been planted at Elsham for generations. We are also home to the Giant Snowdrop or Galanthus Elwesii which was discovered by distant relative Henry John Elwes on a visit to Turkey in 1874. His family home, Colesbourne Park and Gardens in Gloucestershire is still open to the public to this day. It boasts one of the biggest collections of snowdrops in the world.
https://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/
Interesting Facts about snowdrops;
-Snowdrops contain natural anti-freeze proteins which protect them from Ice, frost and snow.
-It’s Greek name Galanthus translates as ‘Milk flower”.
-Snowdrops aren’t actually native to the uk. It’s not clear when they were brought over, but it was during the 18th century they were officially recorded in the wild.
-Snowdrops can be incredibly valuable with avid collectors named ‘galanthophile’s’ paying £100s - £1000s for rare bulbs.
-Galantamine is a compound found within snowdrops which is used to help manage Alzheimer’s and Dementia.