Kildare garden lovers invited to Snowdrop Month in Carlow – welcoming the first signs of Spring
The delicate white and green blooms of the snowdrop peeping through the cold winter ground heralds the start of the
gardening year. Their arrival is celebrated throughout some of County Carlow’s fantastic gardens by a dedicated series of
events during February.
These events welcoming the first signs of Spring include the annual Snowdrop Gala at at Ballykealey House, Ballon on
Saturday January 27th , guided tours of the snowdrop collection at Altamont Gardens from 1st – 2 th February, specialist
snowdrop programme in Arboretum’s Inspirational Gardens at Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven from 1st – 29th
February, snowdrop fun for all the family to be enjoyed at Huntington Castle every weekend during February in a unique
setting, the two-acre community garden An Gairdin Beo in Carlow town centre celebrates snowdrops during various art
forms on Saturday 24 th February, an extensive snowdrop collection is available to view in Shankill Castle each weekend in
February and the gardens at Burtown House also feature an extensive collection of snowdrops and will open every
Wednesday – Sunday during February.
The annual Snowdrop Gala at Ballykealey House, Ballon on Saturday January 27 th which celebrates its 12 th anniversary
this year, has become a firm favourite with lovers and enthusiasts of this special flower. This year’s programme features
lectures by Steve Edney (UK), former Head Gardener at the Salutation and Canterbury Cathedral and owner of No Name
Nursery and garden consultant who talks on “Sticks, Stems and the Stars of Spring” . German speaker Michael Deisvogt,
Director of Park Härle Arboretum in Bonn promises a fascinating talk “Plants and People: Snowdrops in a German
Garden”. Following lunch the afternoon includes a full guided tour of Altamont Gardens and a Specialist Plants Sale in
Altamont Plant Sales featuring snowdrops from Avon Bulbs via Altamont Plants, Coosheen Plants, Cold Blow Nursery,
Fields of Bloom, Assumpta Broomfield, Rosabell Plant Supports and Esker Farm Daffodils (Dave and Joules Hardy). Book
online www.altamontplants.digitickets.co.uk/tickets by PayPal via [email protected] or by credit card, contact
Robert Miller T: 087 9822135
The very popular Snowdrop Month at Altamont Gardens runs from February 1 st – 29 th and is a great opportunity to view
this unique collection, first started by Corona North, former owner of the gardens. Having been further developed by
the OPW over the last twenty years the collection is now amongst the largest in Ireland, with over 150 named varieties.
This 40-acre estate, on the banks of the River Slaney near Tullow features an enchanting blend of formal, informal and
wild gardens. Guided tours take place each Monday - Friday throughout February at 2 p.m. and group tours are available
by appointment. The gardens are open daily for general viewing from 9 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. Now in its 23 rd year, this is one
event on your gardening calendar that you cannot afford to miss. Sugar and Spice Café located in the Walled Garden is
open serving hot drinks and delicious cakes.
Arboretum’s Inspirational Gardens at the award-winning Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven has a specialist
snowdrop programme for 2024. Arboretum’s founder, Rachel Doyle, created the gardens in 2010 to inspire her
customers. Rachel likes to say that the snowdrops wake up the Inspirational Gardens, as they are the first to flower
every year; and there is something different every month after that. There are a few thousand snowdrop bulbs in the
gardens made up of Galanthus ‘Flore Pleno’, which produces dainty fragrant double-white flowers, and the pure white
Galanthus ‘Mount Everest’, a large, strong variety perfect for naturalising. In the shop, find an array of potted
snowdrops including ‘Mount Everest’ and the common snowdrop ‘Nivalis’.
Snowdrop fun for all the family is on offer each weekend during Snowdrop Month at Huntington Castle, listed as one of
the top six gardens to visit in Ireland’s Ancient East. These historic 17th century grounds feature a collection of snowdrops and crocuses to be enjoyed in a unique setting. Along with the snowdrop collection you can view the French
limes on the avenue, the lawns to the side of the house, the fish ponds on either side of the centre walk through the
wilderness and the Yew Tree Walk. After the gardens head back to the castle where a guided tour of the house provides
a window into both its fascinating past, and the lives of the family who call the castle home today – or simply take a
well-earned break in the tea rooms. To get the full Huntington experience, consider a stay in one of their beautiful castle
rooms or self-catering cottages.
A new addition to the snowdrop calendar is planned at the beautiful two-acre community garden An Gairdin Beo in
Carlow Town centre. Craft and Coffee on Saturday, February 24 th celebrates snowdrops during various art forms.
An extensive snowdrop collection is also available to view in Shankill Castle each weekend throughout the month of
February. The gardens located in Paulstown feature a spectacular range of early Spring bulbs and a carpet of snowdrops.
T: 086-3971748 W: www.shankillcastle.com
The gardens at Burtown House will open every Wednesday – Sunday during the month of February featuring an
extensive collection of snowdrops, aconites, hellebores and early bulbs. Hearty brunches and lunches using produce
from the organic kitchen garden will be served at The Green Barn Restaurant – booking recommended. T: 059-862 3865
W: www.burtownhouse.ie
For further information log onto www.carlowgardentrail.com or contact Carlow Tourism on 059-9130411