I want to share a story with you and introduce a new comer to my garden. You may well have heard this story before, I certainly hadn't come across it before now.
I'd like to begin by setting the scene. I was carefully studying the selection of Snowdrops that were being showed by members of the SRGC - there was a varied selection and as I already stated in an earlier blog - it was a eureka moment in so far as Galanthus appreciation was concerned. I had long admired G. Diggory. This lovely snowdrop with it's seersucker petals was top of my shopping list. I really wanted to see it in the flesh, so to speak. Alas, Diggory was absent that day. I began studying the exhibits for an alternative. All the time I was doing so, exhibits were being laid on the table. It was getting difficult to keep up. There was a decent sized pot of a snowdrop, I now know as G. plicatus Sophie North - she was sturdy, lush green foliage and the flower shape really stood out. That was me, smitten!
Just before I stepped away from the table, an elderly lady asked to be excused. She wanted to place her exhibit on the table. Certainly, I said. She then asked me if I was admiring the pot of G. Sophie North, I told her it was difficult not to. She then went on to say, her exhibit was also G. plicatus Sophie North. She was quite disheartened that the other pot looked so much bigger and better than hers. I told her they were equally beautiful in my eyes. She asked me if I knew the story of how she got her name. Obviously my answer was no!
The lady introduced herself as Evelyn, I now know her to be Dr. Evelyn Stevens. She had found a new snowdrop growing in her garden near Dunblane many years ago. When it came time for naming, it coincided with a tragic event, we here in the UK, know as the Dunblane Massacre. For those who don't know the story - 16 young school children (most were 5 years old) and their teacher were gunned down in a 3 minute carnage that took place in their primary school gym in March 1996. I've added a link here to the BBC 'On this Day' website if you want to read more.
Dr Stevens decided that she wanted to name the plant after one of the children that suffered that terrible day. She had been talking to Dr. Mike North, father of Sophie, about the events that awful day. He also told her that Sophie had lost her mother to cancer just 2 years previous. It was then she decided to name her special snowdrop in honour of Sophie North. She told me that all the proceeds she made from subsequent plants sales were donated to the Sophie North Trust.
To say I was moved is a bit of an understatement. It was hard to contain the lump in my throat - memories came flooding back. The events of the day are still vivid in my memory almost 20 years later. My own son had been the same age. Myself and many of the mothers at the school gates that day were in disbelief. As we watched our youngsters coming through the gates without a care in the world, words were not needed. The mothers and fathers, in fact the whole community, in Dunblane would never look at those school gates the same way again, ever. That tragic day was one of Scotland's saddest moments.
I knew then, I just have to have this beautiful snowdrop in my garden. When I relayed this compelling story to my friend - she knew too. Come hell or high water - Sophie was coming home with each of us.
Both of us purchased a single bulb (they were quite expensive) that morning. My snowdrop budget had been blown completely for a single bulb. Not that I mind, each spring, it will be nice to have this reminder.
As I look down my plant list, there are umpteen that have a cultivar name referencing someone or other - it does make you wonder just what their story is.
Do you know of a plant with a special story - I'm sure we'd all love to read about it. Have you chose a plant because you heard the story behind its name? Maybe you've bought a plant with a specific name and to grow on as a memory plant.
Since doing my research, it appears that Dr Stevens opens here garden under the Scotland's Gardens Scheme - it sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I'm going to try free up one of her open days so I can visit. Here's a link if you'd like to read about her garden.
The Snowdrop Campaign (Wikipedia link) was founded by friends of the bereaved families and was so called as March is the time of year that snowdrops are in flower here in Scotland. The campaign called for a total ban on privately owned hand guns here in the UK.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed sharing it with you all.
