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Snowdrop celebration bound for Scotland

20th November
 
Snowdrop enthusiasts will be converging on the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) in the New Year for a major conference dedicated to one of winter’s much-loved floral treasures.

Galanthophiles, as snowdrop enthusiasts are known, will be attending the first conference of its kind in Scotland. It has been organised by RBGE in association with the Cambo Estate, home to Scotland’s national collection of snowdrops.

Dr David Rae, RBGE’s Director of Horticulture, said snowdrops are among the best-loved of Britain’s flowers and have been collected and celebrated for hundreds of years.

He explained “Cultivated snowdrops date back to Medieval times and signify the start of the transition period between winter and spring. Originally known as the Candlemas Bells, they were viewed as an emblem of purity and were widely seen in monasteries and country estates. Today there are endless varieties but each has its own distinctive characteristics which is perhaps one of the reasons these botanical gems are so loved and admired.’’

Dr Rae added: “It is very fitting that the Snowdrop Conference is being held at the Botanics because we have a specialist collection of snowdrops here in Edinburgh. There are also spectacular displays of snowdrops at our two regional gardens at Dawyck in the Scottish Borders and Logan in Dumfries and Galloway.’’

The conference on Friday, February 20 2009 will include a line-up of speakers as well as guided tours of the snowdrop collections in the Edinburgh Garden.

Author Rod Leeds will present a talk entitled Autumn and Early Flowering Snowdrops and Professor John Richards, Emeritus Professor of Botany at the University of Newcastle, will address delegates about Yellow Snowdrops in Northumberland.

Sir Herbert Maxwell – A View will be presented by Professor Peter Behan, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Neurology and Senior Research Fellow, Glasgow University, while The Life and Work of Samuel Arnott is the title of a talk by Professor Michael Tooley, Professor Emeritus of the University of Kingston.

The day will end with an exhibition of snowdrops by the Scottish Rock Garden Club and plant sales.

The conference is part of Scotland’s 2009 Snowdrop Festival, an annual event organised by VisitScotland.

To register for the conference contact Rachel Brown at RBGE on 0131 248 2844.

For information about the Scottish Snowdrop Festival visit www.rbge.org.uk/snowdrops