Godfrey Owen

The first of my snowdrops pushing up through the soggy soil. I’m assured by my gardening friend that this is ´Godfrey Owen’. Named by his wife Margaret Owen, who was a galanthophile.

‘Margaret Owen, was a highly respected galanthophile (an expert on snowdrops); she travelled the country searching for rare examples and gardened at The Patch, an acre of land at Acton Pigott, a few miles south of Shrewsbury.
Bulbs seem to flourish in Shropshire soil, and Margaret Owen was well-known in the tight-knit world of galanthus collecting for her annual snowdrop parties, which took place on the last Saturday in February. About 50 enthusiasts would meet at The Patch, having negotiated, often with difficulty, the winding country lanes. There would be a tour of the garden followed by a convivial lunch, usually a stew prepared by Margaret.´