One of the first festivals in the Homecoming Scotland 2014 calendar, the much-loved Scottish Snowdrop Festival, returns this month with opportunities to see wonderful displays of spring snowdrops in the Highlands between now and March 16.
Last week, we told you about a number of new participating gardens around the country, and this week we can bring you news of even more.
Abriachan Gardens, on Loch Ness-side; Dunrobin Castle Garden at Golspie, Sutherland; Poyntzfield Herb Nursery, in the Black Isle, and Rosehaugh Estate at Avoch are included in the nationwide festival, which includes a diverse range of 53 gardens, with eight new additions. Poyntzfield Herb Nursery boasts half an acre of snowdrops in the woodland below the nursery. They are always spectacular from late February to early March.
These locations will be showcasing beautiful snowdrops, with some places opened exclusively for the event.
Properties taking part range from walled gardens, urban retreats and historic castles, to churchyards and woodland walks.
The festival, now in its eighth year, is the perfect event to remind people of the beauty of our country in the winter months and is a welcome boost for gardens, woodlands and the surrounding tourism businesses as the industry goes through its traditionally quieter months.
As in previous years, one of the highlight events is Snowdrops by Starlight, at the Cambo Estate in Fife, between February 12 and 16, which this year will see visitors donning head torches and walking through the enchanting winter woodlands with kinetic and sound sculptures as well as live music.
The versatility of the snowdrop means that they grow in a wide range of locations and people can see more than 300 varieties of this delicate white flower.
Scott Armstrong, VisitScotland regional director, said: “This year, we are welcoming the world to Scotland with some huge events on the nation’s calendar, including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, The Ryder Cup and Homecoming Scotland 2014 events programme.
“The Snowdrop Festival, part of the Homecoming Scotland calendar, offers a wonderful opportunity for visitors at these locations in the Highlands to see these beautiful displays and is a fabulous way to kick-start this very special year for Scottish tourism.”
The eight new gardens for this year are: Bruckhills Croft (Aberdeenshire), Islay Estate (Islay), Brooklands (Dumfries and Galloway), Craichlaw (Dumfries and Galloway), West Plean House (Stirling), Rossie House (Perthshire), the town of Coupar Angus (Perthshire) and Lindores House (Fife).
Full details of the participating gardens can be found on www.visitscotland.com
Meanwhile, visitors to Scone Palace in Perthshire will be able enjoy the gardens and grounds at their spectacular seasonal best as the Celebration of Snowdrops is now under way.
The palace grounds will be open with free admission, each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from now until March 16 between 10am and 4pm.
Visitors are being invited to take a leisurely stroll through the drifts of enchanting snowdrops that can be found throughout the 100 acres of palace grounds.
Palace administrator Elspeth Bruce said: “At this time of year, our snowdrops make for a stunning show, with carpets of blooms peeping through the shrubs and trees in the woodland and wild gardens and lining Lime Avenue.
“The majority of our snowdrops are of the Galanthus nivalis variety, which have a lovely honey-scented fragrance and pretty nodding flowers.
“Although not native to Britain, they have naturalised extremely well and enjoy the conditions here at Scone Palace.
“While there are no formal gardens here at Scone, our magnificent trees form a particularly spectacular backdrop to these delicate little flowers, from the fine old cedars of Lebanon around the chapel to the towering, exotic conifers of the Pinetum.”
More information on the festival is available at the website www.visit scotland.com/see-do/events/scottish-snowdrop-festival