Snowdrop events 2015

[Maggi Young]

Is it just me or would others rather not see exposed lattice pots? When mine were in lattice pots the pots were about a fingers depth under ground

I think they both look better when sunk deeper and I believe it is better for the bulbs- since most lattice pots are not very deep, failure to sink them might mean the bulbs are at a greater height  than the bulbs would  enjoy.

[Alan_b]

I want my lattice pots to stop burrowing insects getting in and eating my bulbs.  I don't know if this works but it clearly will not work if the pot is more than a few mm below the surface.  I plant to three times the depth of the bulb so a larger bulb requires a larger lattice pot. 

[Maggi Young]

Not too sure how the depth of a lattice pot will stop a "burrowing  insect" , Alan?  I think such critters can find and damage bulbs whether they are  in the open  ground or in a pot above or below ground 

[Alan_b]

Not too sure how the depth of a lattice pot will stop a "burrowing  insect" , Alan? ...

My thinking is that at some point the insect gets too fat to pass between the holes in the lattice.  These are 2x2 mm or smaller in the pots I use and the typical well-fed swift moth larva I find would not pass comfortably through.  So they are either trapped inside or outside the pot or they have to come to the surface and risk being spotted and eaten by a predator - provided the top of the pot is at or only just below the soil surface.  Hopefully this means that if they start outside the pot they will be discouraged from entering and go elsewhere.

Since I started using lattice pots 3 years ago the contents of one pot vanished completely over the summer (no bulbs or insects when lifted) but I have not observed any other losses.  That's a good rate of attrition by my standards.  I had no losses of snowdrops from 30 lattice pots in beds from 2014 to 2015.  However most of these were in beds which were covered with a fine insect mesh netting from the end of May to the end of August last summer so that might be the key to my success.       

[Maggi Young]

My money is on the efficacy of your netting, Alan - it's good to know there's something that can help.

[Alan_b]

Mine too, Maggi, but I'm using belt, braces, string and anything else I can find.  Netting is a viable solution for a raised bed not used in summer but  cannot be applied to the whole garden.

[Alan_b]

I don't know if this constitutes a snowdrop event but it is the Mid Anglia Bulb Sale tomorrow (23rd August).  Details are here: http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/groups/Mid-Anglia/programme/  .  Snowdrop bulbs will be on sale there without a doubt.

Also, Blacksmiths Cottage Nursery have an Autumn Snowdrop Day scheduled for 10th October http://www.blackcottnursery.co.uk/autumn_snowdrop.html

[emma T]

Two photos from a lovely . Was nice to see so many friendly faces . See you again soon I guess 

[Maggi Young]

Glad you got there, Emma! 
Some more photos  here  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12708.msg339560#msg339560

[Maggi Young]

Also, Blacksmiths Cottage Nursery have an Autumn Snowdrop Day scheduled for 10th October http://www.blackcottnursery.co.uk/autumn_snowdrop.html

 A note from Ben Potterton and Blacksmith's Cottage :
 " Blacksmiths Cottage Nursery
We have now reserved 1/2 of the tickets for our Autumn Snowdrop Lecture by Joe Sharman on Saturday 10th October. You can still book and pay for some via our website or telephone the nursery on 01379 741136.
The garden should also be full of colour with plenty of Aster, Helianthus, Persicaria, Salvia and Vernonias. "