Galanthus February 2008

[mark smyth]

13,598 visits to the January thread is amazing

I'm just back from a quick visit to the local garden centre to buy some fresh Sulphate of Potash. Anyone know how long it keeps once opened? I could keep it in a Kilner jar. They have snowdrops for sale that are all labelled Galanthus nivalis but in the pots are all nivalis, all woronowii, a mix of nivalis and woronowii, an elwesii and plicatus here and there. 3 pots for £5 with about 6 bulbs per pot.

[Martin Baxendale]

Provided you keep it dry, Mark, it'll last indefinitely. A Kilner jar should be fine.

[David Nicholson]

Provided you keep it dry, Mark, it'll last indefinitely. A Kilner jar should be fine.

I 'borrowed' a Tupperware box from the kitchen and it keeps very well in that.

[Anthony Darby]

I use the green plastic jars that Tescos liquid tablets for washing machines come in.

[Alan_b]

I found a very curious snowdrop today, growing in a local churchyard.  Don't know what ot make of it.  It almost looks like a fake but, if so, it was not done by me.  It was growing on the edge of a clump of normal snowdrops in a quiet country location.  Any thoughts? 

[mark smyth]

It looks like it's about to go over

[Hagen Engelmann]

For lovers of big and globular drops. It`s only a normal Galanthus nivalis

[mark smyth]

not just normal but very nicely shaped

[annew]

I just thought I'd relate how to collect pollen for those who want to try their hand at hybridising, as I've been asked a couple of times how I do it.
If your snowdrop (or other flower) is still in a pot, bring it into the house for a couple of hours, then around lunchtime, get a piece of foil about 4 x 3cm. The next bit you won't like - I then strip off the petals (all!) to reveal the naughty bits, then lean the stalk over so the flower is just above the foil and gently stroke along the anthers with the point of a small knife or forceps. If the pollen is running you should be able to see it on the foil, which you can then fold around the pollen and store in the fridge in a screw top jar. You can pick flowers off ones in the open ground and do the same.

[Paddy Tobin]

Last weekend's sunny days allowed me take some photographs but I am only now getting round to posting a few of them. Hope you enjoy this sunny day from an otherwise wet, cold - very cold - south of Ireland.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

OK, warming up now.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

The sun is still shining.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

A few more,

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Last few,

Paddy

[Paul T]

Lovely pics Paddy!!