National Trust properties to see snowdrops this winter

The National Trust has published a list of its estates across England, Wales and Northern Ireland where you can escape to and see the carpets of snowdrops during January and February.

January and February is also the time galanthophiles are at their heightened state of arousal. Galanthophilia is the name given to enthusiasts and collectors of Snowdrops.

This article - White Gold - from the Telegraph of February 2007 explains how Galanthophilia gets its name and reveals that at one auction, a single snowdrop sold for £150.00.

There are nearly twenty species of snowdrop across Europe with Galanthus nivalis being native to the United Kingdom.

This great snowdrop article on the Independent website in February 2008 explains that many churches and abbey ruins have fine displays of snowdrops because the white flowers are considered to be associated with the purification of the Virgin Mary.