Galanthus mid February to March 2007

[mark smyth]

I would have expected to see many more photos of snowdrops as it's their peak time.

For those who want to know how to tell nivalis 'Warei' from 'Viridapicis' the first has a huge spathe

[mark smyth]

here's a lovely clean plicatus shown at the bulb day by Jean and bought from one of the tables one I'm not sure of. It's either a well marked woronowii or a poor ikariae. And from the garden some elwesii 'Handel's acting very strange

[Brian Ellis]

I expect that as we are in full flow of the snowdrop season many of us have been visiting other gardens.  When I collected my Diggory from a friend she also gave me a cross between Diggory and Gracilis which she is putatively calling 'Swanton' after the village in which she lives, it has the swirl of the leaves of gracilis and the flower-type of Diggory.  Although my photo is not good here is the one she gave me.


The nice patch of Cowhouse Green is from another friends garden.  One that I would like to grow.  If the has worked I may well look for more photos Mark instead of lurking in the background.

[Maggi Young]

Well, Brian, that worked just fine, didn't it? So more pix, please!

'Swanton' looks to have promise, good if it shows characteristics of both parents.

I just can't understand why even someone living in a cowhouse would want to call a snowie 'Cowhouse green'....I haven't seen this one in real life, it is the name that puts me off... and this from the woman who would like a  G. 'Gloucester Old Spot' just because she likes the pigs!

[Brian Ellis]

Well I have been sitting here Maggi thinking how complicated it must be and it was a breeze!  Here is a better picture of Galanthus 'Swanton' (taken by other half with posh camera whilst I was chatting-what a giveaway).  I have to say that I am a dead sucker for names too, there's something seductive about Galanthus 'Angelique' whilst Hobson's Choice (a recent acquisition) doesn't have quite the same ring about it!

[Anthony Darby]

"Hobson's Choice" was a cracking film though , and "Angelique" will set you back at least £20   "Swanton" looks like an excellent cross.

[Brian Ellis]

Yes I think she is really pleased with the gracilis hybrid.  Sadly I have spent all the money ERNIE has seen fit to award me on snowdrops which explains why I have Angelique.  I have to admit that several people I have spoken to have balked at some of the new prices (Godfrey Owen £40 for example).  I am getting carried away with the ease of posting so hope the admin will forgive the early photo of Mark or perhaps Maggi below!
Brian, you are quite mistaken, this couldn't be me (I'm a redhead), nor Mark, (glossy black hair) I think the little galanthophile bears a strong likeness to Diane Whitehead    Maggi

[David Quinton]

As you can see this is my first post on the forum but I have been following the Galanthus thread for some time know.

I am very new to Galanthophilia but seeing all of the different varieties only serves to make me even more keen. I have been photographing just about anything that looks rometly like a snowdrop and this makes it easier to get 'my fix' whilst at work!

I noticed the photos posted by Brian Ellis of Cowhouse Green. I have attached one I took at the RHS Show last week on the Foxgrove Plants exhibition. I hope you like it.

David

[Maggi Young]

Super, David, a warm welcome to you !

[mark smyth]

Brian can you email me please

It is a nice cross. Like I tell everyone with something new it needs to be moved to a couple parts of the garden or to another garden and a couple of bulbs twinscaled. It's all too easy for a fungus or pest to get a good snowdrop. They have a good and usually expensive taste. You will never see a snowdrop under £8 eaten or killed

Now is the time to start spraying every 10 days with a good, usually banned, fungicide and pesticide. At the bulb day there were many plants showing signs of Stagonospora. In pot culture this can spread in one season. The spores are water bourne either by rain or while watering. One I say was already at the spore stage

[Brian Ellis]

My apologies to all, the picture of a clump os 'Swanton' isn't that at all - probably Diggory itself after consultation with photographer.  The first picture was however of 'Swanton'.  I know for a fact that it has been spread around a few gardens in the area now that it is starting to increase well.  I'll twinscale one of mine too. 
Thanks for the advice on Stagonospora Mark, it's a bit of a worry when, as you say cheaper snowdrops don't get eaten and killed yet the ones we particularly seek out are prone to everything.

[mark smyth]

Brian it isnt Diggory so need to panic. It could simply be gracilis looking like Diggory

[biodiversite]

not a good photo, but it's normally Galanthus transcaucasicus... Are you agree ?

[annew]

Here's a multi-choice question. I've a clump of this snowdrop in the garden and, yes, I've lost the label, but it will be one of the following:
Barbara's double; Desdemona; Hippolyta; Jaquenetta; Ophelia; or Titania. Going through The Book, leads me to think it's a toss-up between Desdemona and Jaquenetta, but I'd welcome opinions please.

[mark smyth]

answers on a post card!

This is what I grow as 'Jacquenetta'