Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: Gail on January 09, 2021, 08:55:18 PM
-
Cold and frosty all day today, nice to see the sun but I brought this one inside, the better to appreciate the perfume;
[attachimg=1]
Galanthus elwesii 'Green Tip'
-
Alan Street of Avon Bulbs tells me he will feature in the programme "Open Country" in an episode called "Snowdrop Country" On BBC Radio 4 today in the UK. The programme is at 1500 UK time ( which may be 10am EST) - and I hope that those outside the UK will be able to listen via the internet. ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000r4w1 )
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgft?fbclid=IwAR2wTqr2no-fCb1JhX9mtUZ75Rqn5INZaDmklwJBHpRxSm5quu6iAglJXtQ
From the programme website:
"Over the past decade there’s been an explosion in “Snowdrop Mania” – galanthophiles, or snowdrop fans, desperate to get their hands on the newest species of snowdrops, paying hundreds, or even upwards of a £1000 at auction for a single bulb.
Two years ago, Radio 4 producer Polly Weston heard of a man in Somerset who had discovered and named many of the most sought after varieties – Alan Street. Polly pictured following him around the countryside in search of the snowdrop which might make him his fortune. The truth turned out to be very different. Alan works for a family-owned nursery, where new varieties of snowdrop seed themselves around a little woodland – thanks in part to the huge number of species they already grow, working in collaboration with the family’s bees. Alan’s lost count of the number he’s discovered and named – “50, 70, 100 or more perhaps… I’ve more than enough.” Yet he still keeps looking. He isn’t interested in money – the auctioning of snowdrops to the highest bidder makes him uneasy – and has spawned the unfortunate side effect of snowdrop crime – people stealing snowdrops. As we record, 13,000 are dug up one night from an abbey in Norfolk. Alan is ever vigilant. Once upon a time, snowdrop bulbs were only ever swapped by galanthophiles, just for the love of it.
Through the seasons, Alan tends and protects this small landscape, and cultivates each of his newly discovered, and rare varieties. We begin to realise the meaning behind each one – many are named after people, many of whom Alan knew and have now gone. It takes years for new varieties to become established and ready to be shared. But as we follow the progress of Alan’s snowdrop landscape through 2020, we approach a snowdrop season which has never been so meaningful or welcome. "
-
With thanks to Zephirine who gave me these last year (among a lot of others) and Anne Repnow who organized the donation at the Schneeglöckentage Mannheim 2020.
[attach=1]
-
Rocking the greenhouse the last couple of weeks are my favourite yellow, Ronald Mckenzie, with Dryad Gold Star, and Green Tear.
-
Podcast from the RHS, featuring Lady Catherine Erskine of Cambo Gardens on snowdrops...... 16minutes long
https://rhs.podigee.io/247-snowdrop-special
"In this week’s episode we visit Cambo Gardens in Fife to meet snowdrop enthusiast Lady Catherine Erskine and her impressive collection of these iconic winter flowers. Plus contributions from nurserywoman Jane Rowlinson of Galanthus specialists Morlas Plants, and snowdrop growing tips from RHS gardening advisor Nikki Barker."
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardening-with-the-rhs/id605769651?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
-
The German magazine GartenFlora has this article about snowdrops - and Anne Repnow
[attachimg=1]
-
A few snowdrops flowering now. Most pictures are from a week ago but Mrs Macnamara was in December.
Galanthus corcyrensis - the bulbs in the front garden started flowering in November and are long gone but this group behind the house start later and go on for longer. They are in shade most of the time and the soil stays moist for longer.
[attachimg=1]
Galanthus Mrs Macnamara on December 12th
[attachimg=2]
Galanthus 'Fred's Giant'
[attachimg=3]
Galanthus 'Fly Fishing' - for some reason one flower is well ahead of the rest.
[attachimg=4]
-
Hi Roma, I think this photo is very interesting.
Over the past week or two I have been wondering 'how is it that snowdrops with such varied flowering times can belong to the same species'? There are forms of several species (reginae-olgae, elwesii, plicatus) that flower months apart in the garden and so I wondered if there were hidden species that are reproductively isolated by flowering season. I did a bit of reading and this article was very helpful, emphasising that wild populations vary continuously according to genetics and environment:
https://www.revolution-snowdrops.co.uk/galanthus-reginae-olgae-part-i/
Also your photo shows that individual forms can vary quite a lot in flowering time (of course things move slower in winter, with individual flowers sometimes lasting for weeks).
-
Late sunshine bringing out the colours nicely:
G. 'Wendy's Gold'
[attachimg=1]
G. 'Deer Slot'
[attachimg=2]
G. 'Fly Fishing'
[attachimg=3]
Surprising how some of these bulk up so quickly- and how they keep being relatively expensive. And also, why aren't more gardens full of different varieties if they do multiply so readily. Do the more specialist selections suddenly die out occasionally- just some thoughts whilst enjoying everyone's pictures of them!
-
That's a good question about snowdrop prices, Bart. They tend to start very high and then typically fall quickly from one year to the next. Then some disappear off the radar and become hard to find (should you want to) whilst the more popular ones reach a stable price that is still hugely expensive by comparison with most other bulbs. Presumably enough new people are coming along and wanting those snowdrops to sustain the price.
-
That´s certainly correct. First, there´s pressure to keep prices high among suppliers, second, cheap snowdrops don´t provide much bargain. That´s why they tend to disappear from the market. As long as there are customers ready to pay more money than the propagation of a certain snowdrop is actually worth, this system works.
Just a Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus, but one with character, I think: ´Dorothy Foreman´
(https://up.picr.de/40387578xx.jpg)
A Galanthus elwesii from a mixture with green tips.
(https://up.picr.de/40387575jg.jpg)
Later it will spread it´s outers like ´Dorothy Foreman´
(https://up.picr.de/40387567vl.jpg)
A pale-eyed find from a local wood.
(https://up.picr.de/40387571xk.jpg)
-
A nice selection Mariette.
... Do the more specialist selections suddenly die out occasionally ...
Some newer, therefore scarcer & more expensive, selections also turn out to be decidedly underwhelming (even ordinary) in the garden :P
-
Some newer, therefore scarcer & more expensive, selections also turn out to be decidedly underwhelming (even ordinary) in the garden :P
New snowdrops are almost always bulked-up by twin scaling or chipping. Then they are frequently sold on the basis of novelty value rather than garden-worthiness, which may not have been much tested.
-
That´s my experience, too. Nevertheless I do appreciate the effort spent to make a novelty like ´Golden Fleece´available. It took inspiration, knowledge, time and labour. Also, it´s a variety which grows well in my garden and bulks up very quickly. It´s hard to understand why other varieties, which were simply chance-seedlings or lucky finds, are offered at similar prices.
-
Good conversation!
Also, I would rather pay 50€ for a snowdrop which stands out from others (and is vigorous), than 5 x 10€ for five different cultivars which in practice may be so similar to each other or even to any unnamed species, that I can't identify them in the garden. Although the expensive ones may also be very similar to other already existing snowdrops, it is not easy to find snowdrops which are good, vigorous and stand out.
-
While the garden is frozen hard, I took the opportunity to take photos of some of our snowdrops. Dryad Demeter and Dryad Venus are both making a great show this year, and both very distinct in habit and markings.
Galanthus koenenianus x fosteri has been much more reliable with me than its seed parent, and its mother's ridged leaves are very easy to see (in real life anyway). The whole clump puts me in mind of a group of little soldiers in stripy trousers! Yes, I've definitely been locked down too long....
Trying to get this little pot of seedling G. gracilis, in my favourite dwarf, chunky form, to arrange itself tidily for the photograph ended in Seedlings 1 Anne 0.
Anglesey Aurora surprised me by retaining the peachy hue even once the flower opened. I'm struggling to warm to these odd-coloured flowers, as I am to pink daffodils. Each to their own.
-
Is any snowdrop madder than G. reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis MISS ADVENTURE? It never fails to raise a smile in its crazy attempts to become an ipoc. The neat flowers with variable outer markings hang below a white spathe streaked with dark green as if it had stolen part of a South Hayes and not known where to put it.
-
Wendy's Gold enjoying some winter sun this afternoon.[attachimg=1]
-
"Yellow" snowdrops are great with snow, cfaitz!
In my garden, the snow is melting in parts.
(https://up.picr.de/40408711ha.jpg)
Easier to take a pic in the green house, as this double Galanthus elwesii from Foxgrove is quite short.
(https://up.picr.de/40408712ug.jpg)
-
Mariette, how beautiful scenery with snowdrops and helleborus!
-
Thank You Leena - I´m looking forward to pics of the far more beautiful sceneries in Your garden! :)
-
Mariette, it will not be until April this year, I think. There is so much snow right now. And I'm not sure about the beautiful-thing:).
I miss the mild winter 2020, and have to be content to look at pictures right now!
But more exciting thing to think about is that just couple of days ago I noticed germination in seed pot labeled Dryad Gold mix, seeds bought from Dryad Bulbs last summer:).
-
Galanthus plicatus 'Wendy's Gold'
-
Very much enjoying your Galanthus pics. We have a pot of G. fosteri which is just coming into flower. I'm afraid my hands are not very steady these days but I will try and post 2 pics.
-
Lovely, Shelagh! Galanthus fosteri is one of my favourites, I like the green leaves and the pretty marks. ´Wendy´s Gold´has also green leaves, which sets of the yellow marks and receptacle especially well. Nice group, Herman!
-
Very nice Shelagh. I may have lost this one so must look out for it again.
This morning it was warm (>10°C), calm & spring-like here. Snowdrops & first crocuses opened fully, to the delight of the bees which avidly gathered pollen.
With pollen coming in the queens increase their laying, the colonies start to build up for another season and so the cycle continues 8)
Galanthus 'Diggory'
G. 'Kildare'
G. 'Rosemary Burnham'
G. nivalis which were really buzzing!
-
My 'new' Bill Clark has deformed outer petals.... I don't recall this being a problem on my 'old' Bill Clark, which got virused and binned.
Tim DH
-
I've got a couple of different flowers with damage like that which I've assumed is due to a physical damage of the emerging bud, it doesn't look like disease.
-
Occasionally, this kind of damage occurs also in my garden and green house, but doesn´t repeat the next year. Like Gail, I always considered it to be some kind of physical damage, not disease.
You are lucky with the weather in Ireland, Ashley! Beautiful pictures of Your garden - I´m afraid, we are not going to have warm sunshine the next weeks.
-
Lovely, Shelagh! Galanthus fosteri is one of my favourites,
For the moment, fosteri is one of my favorite... search on internet ! ;D I don't find any nursery that sell it (or it is out of stock) and with Brexit, it will be even harder and expensive. If some have one or few bulbs to spare or sell, I will be very happy ;)
-
Alas, it doesn´t clump well for me. In Britain it seems to be considered a plant for the green house, yet mine came from German friends growing it in the garden, where I grow a few, too, for several years.
-
Does anyone know what this is growing in a pot of garden centre elwesii? Many thanks
-
Don't know it but it has lovely markings. Definitely one to keep.
-
Hi Karaba,
Field of Blooms list fosteri and since they are in Ireland, Brexit shouldn't be a problem! Might be worth dropping them a line.
Tim DH
-
Glenorma living up to its name;
[attachimg=1]
and Anglesey Aurora looking distinctly peachy;
[attachimg=2]
-
Hi Guys,
Has the Galanthus Bubble burst? Or is it, at least somewhat deflated??
This is post number 35 in the Jan 2021 Thread.
Here are total post numbers for previous Januarys
Jan 2020 69
Jan 2019 110
Jan 2018 193
Jan 2017 230
Jan 2016 175
Jan 2015 397
Jan 2014 408
Jan 2013 320
Jan 2012 620
Jan 2011 430
Does anyone have a view on what ‘The New Black’ might be in the plant world?
Do you think that a change in fashion might mean that some of the newer Galanthus cultivar’s prices might start to fall into the range of folk who are just interested in snowdrops??
Tim DH
-
Hi Guys,
Has the Galanthus Bubble burst? Or is it, at least somewhat deflated??
This is post number 35 in the Jan 2021 Thread.
I don't think the interest in snowdrops has decreased, Tim - and the high prices being paid for some drops on Ebay from reputable growers supports that! However, it is true that many galanthophiles have moved to social media outlets.
Sadly this means that any useful posts they make will only be seen by the chosen few there, as opposed to being able to be seen and searched anyone here - but that is the case for many these days as the ease of social media appeals to the masses meantime.
Happily there are still folks who realise the benefit of a truly open resource and support the Forum in all aspects!
-
Does anyone have a view on what ‘The New Black’ might be in the plant world?
A black snowdrop would be new, but not on my wish-list! :) And actually even the orangey ones are perhaps interesting rather than beautiful when compared to the pure perfection of a standard snowdrop.
I think as Maggi says, it is more a matter of people moving allegiance to other forms of communication. As someone who doesn't even possess a smartphone, I continue to value the forum greatly as a fantastic source of knowledge but also for that sense of plant camaraderie it engenders.
And thank you Maggi for all that you do to support this (and ensuring my pictures are the right way up!)
-
Gail, like You I don´t own a smartphone, as I still abhor to put on specs to use it. Nevertheless, one might use other social media - but out of the reasons Maggi pointed out I prefer to stick to the forum where I learnt so much over the years.
-
It's February, but I took this photo in January so I'll share it here. Having lived in California most of my life, I had never seen a snowdrop before moving to Europe. But now I can see why people get so taken with them.
Here is my first-ever Galanthus: G. elwesii "Grumpy". I bought it as a dormant bulb from Avon Bulbs last summer because of a post from this forum, so thank you all for your posts!
-
Grumpy, how appropriate looking at your wonderful picture.
-
A nice Irish snowdrop G.elwesii Drummond's Giant flowering in Cork, Ireland !
-
Nice to see an Irish snowdrop here after Maggi made Paddy Tobin´s articles on Irish snowdrops available to us! ´Kildare´and ´Castlegar´are among my favourites, as I prefer somewhat more subtle marks. Both are easily available here, others, like ´Woodtown´and ´David Shackleton, unfortunately not.
-
My First Ever snowdrop in flower, grown from seed, kindly donated by Alan some years ago.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Thank you Alan.
I don't think the interest in snowdrops has decreased, Tim - and the high prices being paid for some drops on Ebay from reputable growers supports that! However, it is true that many galanthophiles have moved to social media outlets.
Sadly this means that any useful posts they make will only be seen by the chosen few there, as opposed to being able to be seen and searched anyone here - but that is the case for many these days as the ease of social media appeals to the masses meantime.
Happily there are still folks who realise the benefit of a truly open resource and support the Forum in all aspects!
Indeed Maggi, Who would be able and willing to patiently flip my pictures on Facetwitter?? Thank you.
Hi Guys,
Has the Galanthus Bubble burst? Or is it, at least somewhat deflated??
This is post number 35 in the Jan 2021 Thread.
.......
Do you think that a change in fashion might mean that some of the newer Galanthus cultivar’s prices might start to fall into the range of folk who are just interested in snowdrops??
Tim DH
Tim, the same happened on the Pleione thread. All my initial knowledge came from those posts, now it is a meagre show. I still refuse to sign up to the time wasting platforms though. You get sooo much clutter to sift through...
-
Well done Bart; very rewarding to see first flowers on your own seedlings, & this one looks nice 8)
-
Hi Roma, I think this photo is very interesting.
Over the past week or two I have been wondering 'how is it that snowdrops with such varied flowering times can belong to the same species'? There are forms of several species (reginae-olgae, elwesii, plicatus) that flower months apart in the garden and so I wondered if there were hidden species that are reproductively isolated by flowering season. I did a bit of reading and this article was very helpful, emphasising that wild populations vary continuously according to genetics and environment:
https://www.revolution-snowdrops.co.uk/galanthus-reginae-olgae-part-i/
Also your photo shows that individual forms can vary quite a lot in flowering time (of course things move slower in winter, with individual flowers sometimes lasting for weeks).
Interesting article, Tristan. I think my G. corcyrensis are all one clone. I see seed capsules sometimes but I'm not sure if any survive marauding slugs to germinate. I t seems that position has a lot to do with flowering time. The ones in the front garden in full sun and well drained flowered right through November and into early December. The ones in the back garden are shaded by the house but not overhung by trees and get very little sun if any when the are above the ground and most are shaded by a large Hosta when dormant. They started flowering in mid December and are still flowering though rain and frost and a short spell under snow have left them a bit bedraggled. I notice some have botrytis so will have to dig them up when the frost goes.