Colesbourne Park and other Snowdrop Gardens

[mark smyth]

I think green marking must be very variable or they sell us the crap ones and let us live in hope.

[Brian Ellis]

Hello John

I think your comment about Anglesey Abbey shows that it is best to buy them when in flower.  I got one at Ashwoods a couple of weekends ago, there were five or six there but only the one which resembled the photo in the book. 

A lesson learned!
Brian

[Paddy Tobin]

Some excellent snowdrops, Mark. Personally, I  like the clear lines of the apical marks of Deer Slot; Greenfinch is well marked enough to be strikingly differently; Darlingworth is a little dote; Richard Ayres is an oddity, Rodmartin seems nothing special and both the elwesii seedling and elwesii monostictus seem best ignored.

Why are cultivars of questionable quality offered for sale? Very simply because there are many people willing to buy them.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

IF you could have seen the very pale silver elwesii in real life you would they were stunning. John did you see them?

[KentGardener]

Hi Mark

it doesn't ring a bell - which part of the estate was it in?

cheers

John

[Paddy Tobin]

No doubt you are correct, Mark. Maybe I would be just another sucker for the novel.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

they were among all the specials on the outside of the pond area very close to the door that lead to the house

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, you use the word "dote" as in "Darlingworth is a little dote" and I've seen you use it about a Euphrasia, too. I know about "doting" on something, to adore  it etc. as the galanthophiles dote on their snowies, so I'm assuming your "dote" is a sort of noun from this. Never heard it before though, do you think this is an Irish use or have others heard it? Odd that  "to dote" has connotations of to be foolish as well, through old age, which must give us the dotage link. Sorry, off topic again.

[mark smyth]

we in the north use wee dote too. I googled it and came up with Dote; as in 'aren't you a wee dote'. Said when admiring new baby, small child or snowdrop

[KentGardener]

Hi Mark

I don't remember that one I must admit - I have just looked at my general pictures of that area and couldn't spot it.  My lasting memory of the pond area is the clump of 'Elwesii Mandarin'.

regards

John

[mark smyth]

Yes that elwesii was looking great

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

To say someone is a 'dote' would certainly be a compliment, to mean something beautiful, loved, admired etc. and what plant more than a snowdrop deserves to be so described.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, I make no reply to your question, in case I incriminate myself but I thank you for your meaning of dote.

[Paddy Tobin]

Ah sure, Maggi, You're a wee dote yourself!

I was looking at your photograph with Mark, in the Bulb Log, and didn't think it was the same person at all. You will have to change your picture, come out from under the blue raincoat, and show yourself better. You have been 'hiding your light under a bushel', so to speak.

I see that Mr. Bulb Log will be visiting Dublin later in the year. Hopefully, I will manage to get to it but it is on during the week and facing a 100 mile drive home and a classroom full of children the next day is a little daunting.

John, is that G. elwesii 'Carolyn Elwes' the one that infamously was stolen some years ago? Some survived then or was there another patch for security?  It is often commented that it is good horticultural practice to try plants in different locations in the garden in hopes that one environment will suit it well but it seems that there may be other reasons to do so also.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

Paddy some were left behind