Garden lovers invited to ‘Snowdrop Time’

AS WINTER begins to fade, the delicate white and green snowdrop blooms emerging from the soil signal fresh beginnings and the start of the annual gardening calendar. These early signs of spring are celebrated across Carlow and Kildare with Snowdrop Time, a vibrant programme of garden openings, guided tours, specialist talks and family-friendly experiences running from late January through February 2026.

Snowdrop Time gets underway with the much-anticipated 15th Snowdrop Gala at Ballykealey House, Ballon, Carlow on Saturday 24 January. The event features an engaging programme of talks by leading experts, including John Massey of Ashwood Nurseries in England with My winter garden and Callum Hallstead, senior gardener at Cambo Gardens in Scotland, speaking on Life after snowdrops – celebrating the snowdrop at Cambo and knowing how to move on.

Following lunch, guests will enjoy a fully guided tour of Altamont Gardens and exclusive access to a specialist plant sale featuring snowdrops and spring plants. Tickets include morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, lectures, plant sales and garden tours. You can book online at www.altamontplants.com or call 085 7318676.

Snowdrop Month at Altamont Gardens runs from 1-28 February, offering visitors the chance to explore this celebrated collection. With over 150 named varieties spread across a 40-acre estate on the banks of the River Slaney near Tullow, Altamont combines formal, informal and wild garden spaces. The gardens are open daily from 9am to 4.30pm, with guided tours available each day at 2pm.

Combined, both Altamont Gardens and Altamont Plant Sales have Ireland’s largest public snowdrop collection and one of the most significant in Europe.

In Athy, the delightful gardens at Burtown House are open every Wednesday to Sunday, where you’ll find a wealth of snowdrops, aconites, hellebores and other early spring bulbs. The gardens are a beautiful way to witness nature’s first blooms in their full glory. After a stroll through the gardens, enjoy a hearty brunch or lunch at the Green Barn Restaurant, serving dishes made with produce from the house’s organic kitchen garden.

A new sensory dimension to Snowdrop Time is offered at Carlow’s Delta Sensory Gardens, which will host the ‘Sensory Snowdrop Experience’ from 31 January to 1 March, inviting visitors to explore rare and beautiful snowdrop varieties in an environment designed to engage all five senses. The collection includes Drummonds Giant, Trymposter, Bill Bishop, The Pearl, Spindlestone Surprise and many more, making Delta a must-visit destination for galanthophiles and garden lovers alike. See more at www.deltasensorygardens.ie.

Families can also enjoy Snowdrop Time at Huntington Castle, Carlow, open every weekend from 31 January onwards. The historic 17th century grounds feature snowdrops and early spring bulbs set among woodland walks, French lime avenues, the famous Yew Tree Walk and playground. For more, see www.huntingtoncastle.com.

At Arboretum’s Inspirational Gardens in Leighlinbridge, thousands of snowdrops awaken the gardens each year.

Potted bulbs are also available in store including ‘Mount Everest’ and ‘Nivalis’.