National Trust property Kingston Lacy, located in Dorset, is a place to visit in order to see some of the first signs of spring. Last year, I visited Kingston Lacy for the first time and explored the house and gardens; I returned later in the year to see the winter and Christmas decorations. The prime time to see snowdrops is now, in the middle part of February. They signal the first change of the season from winter to spring. I enjoyed sunny but cold weather for my visit, and the snowdrops were out in full bloom.
There are several places to see the snowdrops in Kingston Lacy, and my favourite place to see them here was the Victorian Fernery, which is located just to the back of the house. There are over 35 different varieties in the Fernery. There were different colours of flowers here and different types of snowdrop. The first snowdrops were planted by owner Henrietta Bankes, who planted them in the early 1900s. Currently, over 40 different species of snowdrops are planted at Kingston Lacy.
The word for snowflower is Galanthus, which translates from Greek to "milk" and "flower". There are several different species of snowdrop, and Kingston Lacy has a few of them. It is thought that they were brought by Romans to Britain.
The snowdrops offer one of the first sources of nectar for bees in January-March. The substrance Galanthamine is produced by the plant, and it can be used to improve sleep and treat Alzheimer's. A new species of snowdrop was discovered in 2012, and it is very rare and only grows in a few locations in Russia and Georgia, and one of the habitats was destroyed during the Olympic Games preparations.
In addition to snowdrops, I also discovered a few daffodils in early bloom as well as a cluster of bloomed primrose, and crocus.
On the trail, I discovered a large pig digging for food.
The National Trust property was particularly busy when I visited, and the snowdrops seem to attract many fans. Visitors can expect to see the snowdrops until the end of February, but the best time to visit is the middle of February. The property charges an entrance fee (or National Trust membership), and it is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm, but it is best to check the National Trust website in case of any changes.
After the walk around the property, I enjoyed hot chocolate and a scone.
More posts about Kingston Lacy, the National Trust property in Dorset are included below:
Winter Light Trail at National Trust's Kingston Lacy House (Dorset, England)
Christmas at National Trust's Kingston Lacy House (Dorset, England)
An Afternoon at Kingston Lacy (Dorset, England)
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