Did you know that the crime of nicking underwear  from other people’s washing lines is known as Snowdropping? This is why, when addressing a groups of snowdrop aficionados one must be careful not to call them Snowdroppers but Galanthophiles. This, obviously, comes from Galanthus which is the Latin for snowdrop.

Now I realise that both digital and print media are swimming in articles about these jolly white flowers at the moment: unsurprisingly as there ain’t much else out there to feed the horticultural fires. I have written some of them myself including one on this very blog, here.

The truth is, however, that unless you get into the details of the little green markings (which tends to involve prostrating oneself on wet ground) there is not a huge amount to say on the subject.

So….

let us assume that great swathes of snowdrops are very lovely things and instead spend a short moment thinking of other species of plants whose enthusiasts could also be granted the title of -philes.

Having just had this idea and sat for a moment, I have just realised that there aren’t that many. Is there a Clemophile, or a Rosophiliac or something like Delphiniophilia? I think this may be one of those moments when I have to ask for contributions or suggestions from you lot – which also gives me the chance to make sure that there is somebody reading this.*

I have come up with:

Dendrophiles: a bit more generalised meaning people whom love trees.

Orchidophile: Orchids but also a song by Katy Carr (about whom I know nothing)

Nemophiles: lovers of woodland plants

Cryophiles: lunatic people who like cold places.

Spudophile: chip lover.

Fileophile: somebody whose seeds are immaculately catalogued

BizzyLizophile: People who follow the Queen to every engagement.

Enough, I think.

And if you want to see some great snowdrop collections then try:

Thur 16 Feb Cherubeer Gardens, Dolton, Devon EX19 8PP

Sat 18 Feb Lacock Abbey Gardens, Chippenham, Wilts SN15 2LG

Sun 19 Feb Higher Denham Gardens, Higher Denham, Bucks UB9 5EA

Mon 20 Feb Boscombe Village Gardens, Boscombe, Wilts SP4 0AB

Wed 22 Feb Austwick Hall, Town Head Lane, Austwick, nr Settle, Yorks LA2 8BS

Thur 23 Feb Little Court, Crawley, nr Winchester, Hants SO21 2PU

Sat 25 Feb Pikes Cottage, Madford, Hemyock, Devon EX15 3QZ

Sun 26 Feb Magnolia House, Grange Drive, Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0QD

Wed 29 Feb Yew Tree Cottage, Penshurst, Kent TN11 8AD

There are lots of others on the National Garden Scheme website.

The photograph was taken by Tony Craddock: face like a haddock but nifty with a lens.

*The obverse of this is that if nobody responds to this then I know that my words are falling on fallow (or stony) ground. Sniff!