Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: mark smyth on January 24, 2008, 02:38:41 PM

Title: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 24, 2008, 02:38:41 PM
Over the last few weeks I have been in contact with Mr. Howes on Ebay regarding his snowdrops and what I can buy later in the year when bulbs are dormant.

I'm allowed to tell you that some specials are about to be listed including nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'. I'll post a photo of it later
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Alan_b on January 24, 2008, 03:57:07 PM
Is Mr Howes affiliated with Monksilver Nursery (as someone suggested to me)?
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 24, 2008, 05:59:51 PM
No just a collector over many years and an avid twinscaler. 'Ecusson' has been around for a number of years. I saw it at my first lunch about 7 years ago.

(looking at my records I saw the snowdrop for the first time only four years ago)
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: KentGardener on January 24, 2008, 06:08:36 PM
A lovely snowdrop indeed - but at £50 for a single bulb, a little too rich for me - and there were only 3 to begin with... - and the prices on ebay will 'maybe/probably' go twice as high (if recent sales are any indication). 

As nice as this snowdrop is, I have resigned myself to the fact that I am unlikely to own it for a good few years yet.  :(

____________________________________________________
John
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Hans J on January 24, 2008, 07:06:17 PM
I have also received today my list from Monksilver -it is interesting :

in UK sells J.Sharmann this plant for 50 GBP - in Germany for 70 Euro .....thats a bad rate ...... :o
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 24, 2008, 07:11:44 PM
I would have thought you are getting it 5 Euro cheaper. When buying in Ireland I usually allow £1 = 1.5 Euro making it 75 Euro
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Hans J on January 24, 2008, 07:15:24 PM
Mark - please look here :

http://www.fxtop.com/de/

Type the sum -and push "rechnen"
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Maggi Young on January 24, 2008, 07:22:25 PM
At that rate you're a really good customer, Mark. I won't be asking you to go to the bureau de change for my holiday money! :(
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Hans J on January 24, 2008, 07:28:05 PM
Here are the lists in Euro
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Alan_b on January 24, 2008, 07:47:40 PM
What about postage charges.  In the UK, Joe charges £1 per plant (which seems pretty reasoanble to me).
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Hans J on January 24, 2008, 07:51:42 PM
we have to pay in Euro :

up to 5 bulbs : 6,00 EUR
up to 10 bulbs : 9,00 EUR
up to 20 bulbs :14,00 EUR
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 24, 2008, 09:50:33 PM
I cant find my photos of 'Ecusson' so I begged one from Mr Howes
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 24, 2008, 09:56:59 PM
Just found mine dated 2004 - dont the years roll in to one! Little wonder I couldnt find it. I have it saved under the English translation
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 24, 2008, 10:14:25 PM
This is a nivalis so the acid conditions may also apply. If I remember right Robin Hall uses granite grit as a mulch on his trough of Sandersii
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: KentGardener on January 31, 2008, 01:39:58 PM
I've just noticed one coming up on ebay tonight.  It is rapidly heading towards the most expensive snowdrop ever catagory!   :o :o :o

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Galanthus-nivalis-Ecusson-d-Or-RARE-yellow-snowdrop_W0QQitemZ130192988288QQihZ003QQcategoryZ42207QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

John

Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Maggi Young on January 31, 2008, 01:50:33 PM
Just a crazy price.  Time and again we read of how fickle the markings/colourings on these snowdrops are and still there are folk who will pay these daft prices! It is beyond me  ::) ???
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Anthony Darby on January 31, 2008, 02:43:17 PM
Are you on a commission for flagging it up John? ;) I wonder if it would pay off as an investment? I wonder how many orders Monksilver got for their three?
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 31, 2008, 02:57:33 PM
3  ;D
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Brian Ellis on January 31, 2008, 03:49:55 PM
Does that mean you bought all three Mark? ;)
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 31, 2008, 04:12:45 PM
maybe  ;)
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Martin Baxendale on January 31, 2008, 05:39:17 PM
Or do you mean, Mark, that you sent in 3 orders for the 3 bulbs by using other people's names or getting them to order it for you? Cos you did say 3 orders.
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Diane Whitehead on January 31, 2008, 06:40:23 PM
I wonder if it would pay off as an investment?
If you really want to get into plants as an investment, move into Clivia.
Collectors don't have to chop up their bulbs.  They just sell their seeds
online.  I usually pay $1 or $2  per seed, but they go far higher
than that.  A Chinese website offers seeds in different price ranges, and
the highest category is "over $50".  These are probably from the plants
that sell for up to $30,000.
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 31, 2008, 06:59:35 PM
Only playing Martin but I have asked for one.
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Martin Baxendale on January 31, 2008, 07:04:46 PM
Only playing Martin but I have asked for one.

Okaaaay.
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: KentGardener on January 31, 2008, 07:30:22 PM
up to 72 pounds already on ebay!  And still over an hour to go.....

Mark, if you have got a spare couple of hundred pounds you could be sure of getting one on ebay as I have a feeling all the Monksilver ones will be gone! 

I am so shocked at the prices this year! :o :o :o

John

Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Maggi Young on January 31, 2008, 08:35:37 PM
Quote
A Chinese website offers seeds in different price ranges, and
the highest category is "over $50".  These are probably from the plants
that sell for up to $30,000.
Now, I like Clivias...got a few ,very ordinary, orange, lemon, very pretty....but $30,000 for one? I could buy a decent horse for that  ??? Or a very nice yellow diamond...to make me think of jonquils every time i wore it.........
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: David Quinton on January 31, 2008, 08:46:57 PM
up to 72 pounds already on ebay!  And still over an hour to go.....

Mark, if you have got a spare couple of hundred pounds you could be sure of getting one on ebay as I have a feeling all the Monksilver ones will be gone! 

I am so shocked at the prices this year! :o :o :o

John

It finally went for £131.98! Utter insanity.
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 31, 2008, 08:49:37 PM
I keep thinking if I was greedy I could off load my specials on Ebay and buy them again from suppliers

Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 31, 2008, 08:51:11 PM
Galanthus 'Clovis' is no for sale
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Galanthus-Clovis-very-rare-snowdrop_W0QQitemZ130194748013QQihZ003QQcategoryZ42207QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Galanthus-Clovis-very-rare-snowdrop_W0QQitemZ130194748013QQihZ003QQcategoryZ42207QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Anthony Darby on January 31, 2008, 10:02:40 PM
'Phil's Fancy' look's better than its name. In fact, it looks very nice, if not better than 'Trym' or even 'South Hayes'. One of your 'specials' Mark?
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on January 31, 2008, 10:10:15 PM
No kindly allowed by Stella Tracey and photographed in a Devon garden. 'Phil' is Phil Cornish who sadly told me "my stock is almost out , losses have been heavy, & I intend to stop after this year"

I just realised I have this in the wrong thread
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: KentGardener on February 01, 2008, 01:41:12 AM
CRIVENS!  That surely is the most expensive snowdrop ever sold!

Even higher than the auctions that were discussed on here last year.

John

Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Gerard Oud on February 01, 2008, 05:15:37 AM
Unbelievable much money for a snowdrop with the wrong name, it should be" Ecusson de Lemon vert"
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 01, 2008, 08:02:51 AM
Perhaps the soil had too much lime in it? ;)
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: KentGardener on February 01, 2008, 08:27:51 AM
Anthony - I can definately see how your 'punmaster' title came about!

(yours and Gerards post did make me snigger though)  :D

cheers

John
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 01, 2008, 09:03:34 AM
We only aim to please, John. That reminds me. When I had my 21st in our house in Callander we had a toilet off a porch just off the kitchen. This was designated as the "gents" for the evening. On the low-level cistern (cast iron painted white) I wrote in indelible black upper case letters: "We only aim to please; you aim too, please". My mother never noticed and it was six months later, when a tradesman burst out laughing and subsequently pointed it out did show have it painted over! ;D
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 01, 2008, 09:47:21 AM
Auctions on e-bay can really be insane.
I saw people offering sums for Pleiones that were readily available in the trade for half the money....  ???
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Paddy Tobin on February 01, 2008, 11:10:15 AM
Just picking up on snowdrop prices. Not all are so crazy. Wol Staines of Glen Chantry Gardens was in Cork last night and I bought three snowdrops:

G. 'Bill Bishop' for 10 Euro
G. 'Pride o' the Mill' for 11 Euro
and G. 'Kite' for 17 Euro.

Compared with many brochure/catalogue prices these are very reasonable, and remember these prices are in Euro so comparison with sterling is even more favourable.

Unfortunately, he had a very, very small supply as he had delivered a talk in Co. Wexford on Wednesday night and most of what he had brought were sold there. Overall, he hadn't brought many anyway, he said.

He has it in mind to offer snowdrops by mail order next year if there is a demand.

His garden was excellent - judging by the photographs - and the talk was on his garden through the seasons.


Paddy
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: mark smyth on February 01, 2008, 11:23:00 AM
'Pride o the Mill' for around £7 that is so cheap!
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Tony Willis on February 01, 2008, 11:31:16 AM
Not that these comment have any bearing on this subject( thats like the BBC saying alleged on the news) but what springs to mind is

'more money than sense' and 'a fool and his money are soon parted'
Title: Re: Galanthus nivalis 'Ecusson d'Or'
Post by: Gerard Oud on February 01, 2008, 11:35:41 AM
Anthony, when we were young, we wrote in small letters at the bottom of the toiletdoor," if you can read  its dropping on your shoes"
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