Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: Ant-k on March 05, 2015, 05:48:00 PM
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I now see the 'Green mile' nursery is offering dormant bulbs for €125 but won't flower until spring 2017!...as a novice are non flowering and smaller size dormant bulbs easier to grow and establish then a normal size dormant bulb?
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I wouldn't pay out that sort of money for what must be a very small bulb :o personally I'm not sure about selling something that hasn't flowered, particuarly if it's something produced rapidly from chipping/twin scaling.
but I wouldnt pay that for several large bulbs ;)
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Most of the sellers will have them in a year or two at reasonable prices
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Most of the sellers will have them in a year or two at reasonable prices
I didn't realise that it was in wide circulation yet?
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Bit of a dissappointment for those who invested last year a lot of money in it. I have heard from a groupe of collectors from Germany who bought about 4 for 2000 euro :o If they had waited till this year they could have bought 4 times as much :o
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Bit of a dissappointment for those who invested last year a lot of money in it.
Those who purchased Green Mile would have been aware of the worthy cause for which the sale was intended. Supporting a nursery like Green Mile whose quality is of the very highest standard is always to be applauded.
johnw
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Sounds fair John, but to drop the price from 500 euro to 125 euro the very next year ???
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Sounds fair John, but to drop the price from 500 euro to 125 euro the very next year ???
I'm tending to agree with Gerard here, it's a substantial drop (excuse the pun) in price but I suppose the lower price reflects a bulb that is going to take another year to flower. My question is why they are selling what we classify as Fs1 sized bulbs in (pleione terms) at all ? Waiting a year and a half until it flowers would certainly test the patience of the most enthusiastic galanthophiles and having to nurse it through two dormant periods! If they found green mile five years ago they have had a chance to bulk it up but perhaps the mistake was to release some last year at £500 even if it was for a good cause. I'd have chipped/twin scaled it in bulk and have a lot more to sell somewhere between the two extremes in prices.
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:)
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Superb pictures and it is obviously worth every penny ;D
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I have never seen 'Green Mile' growing anywhere but I agree with Brian; it photographs superbly well.
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I saw it in two gardens this year and was quite disappointed. It looks better in photos
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Perhaps 'Green Mile ' is like many other snowdrops and takes a while to settle down? Seems a reasonable expectation when practically ever other 'drops mentioned seems to do that!
My understanding is that one can buy s flowering sixed bulb for 500 euros or now, in response to requests, a young chipped bulb for 125 euros - there is no doubt that the difference in size is clearly stated.
I think it rather unfair to be making these comments over the sale of the plant - can the seller not choose whatever price he likes - whether that is for a snowdrop or a wardrobe?? And it is it not open to anyone to buy - or not- as he pleases?
This is one of those times when I think galanthomania really needs to learn boundaries. This is an honest seller - I would think there were enough scoundrels out there for you to aim your gripes at.
Be nice, for goodness sake!
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Its probably the group setting that sets it off better than a lone bulb
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Perhaps 'Green Mile ' is like many other snowdrops and takes a while to settle down? Seems a reasonable expectation when practically ever other 'drops mentioned seems to do that!
I think it rather unfair to be making these comments over the sale of the plant - can the seller not choose whatever price he likes - whether that is for a snowdrop or a wardrobe?? And it is it not open to anyone to buy - or not- as he pleases?
This is one of those times when I think galanthomania really needs to learn boundaries. This is an honest seller - I would think there were enough scoundrels out there for you to aim your gripes at.
Be nice, for goodness sake!
Come on Maggie nobody's really griping as such, just having an open discussion on the 'wisdom' of such a drastic drop in price. Not really sure what boundaries are being crossed here on no occasion does anyone suggest the seller being dishonest or otherwise and they certainly can adopt whatever selling strategy they like for what is a stunning plant. We are being nice, always nice.
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Looks like griping to me - there are so many moans when plants are "too dear" or "too small" and here is a seller, a decent young man who is selling a snowdrop to finance his studies who has dropped the price and stated clearly that the bulbs will not yet be flowering size - and instead of being pleased, there are "gripes" (some of which from GO may simply be professional envy :P ) - but all of which are less than generous - and the point is that Ant. started this thread by asking " as a novice are non flowering and smaller size dormant bulbs easier to grow and establish then a normal size dormant bulb? " - and no-one has bothered to answer him.
Now do you see why I see griping? ::)
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...the point is that Ant. started this thread by asking " as a novice are non flowering and smaller size dormant bulbs easier to grow and establish then a normal size dormant bulb? " - and no-one has bothered to answer him.
In that case I would suggest that, on the whole, they are just as easy to establish, however, it would be well to mollycoddle them a bit until they have built up to a decent flowering size. Patience is a virtue, I have been supplied with very small chips that have taken three or four years to reach flowering size in the garden, so if I can do it anyone can :D
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" as a novice are non flowering and smaller size dormant bulbs easier to grow and establish then a normal size dormant bulb? "
I would say in my experience no, it tends to be the reverse. Some small bulbs grow rapidly to full size but others seem to struggle to get there and remain small for years. Since all my bulbs get much the same treatment this may well be my fault for not giving the smaller bulbs that extra care and attention. But extra care and attention required = more difficult.
What I'm saying doesn't really differ from Brian's response; I'm just being a bit less attentive or more pessimistic.
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And a good shot of soluble potash before the leaves start to die would be worth consideration.
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I was one of the crazy people who bought a bulb - and yes I was mad to do so. (Did it first thing after receiving a diagnosis of cancer - the last shirt has no pockets and all that... ;) Galanthus-therapy...)
I have not regretted it, Green Mile has grown very well and flowered. It is not a small nivalis - the scape is about 13 cm long. And the flower - though only a single one - really stands out. The green seems to glow. It has (for the time being) definitely become my favourite snowdrop.
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Never underestimate the power of retail therapy, eh, Anne? I am glad you are enjoying this 'drop - and I hope it also brings you luck.( green like a lucky clover!)
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Thank you, Maggi! I do count myself lucky. Can you imagine how many times I pottered around the garden this winter, checking whether a green nose was showing in the soil? I had a great time.
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It was a great time because the green nose did show in due course. But it's a bad time when the eagerly-anticipated one fails to appear. And, for me, an anxious time when it isn't clear which it will be.
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This G. 'Green Mile' is terrific and Anne, what a treat to see your lovely bloom, and your personal anecdote one we can all relate to on some level. Robin Callens must smile to see it popping up now in gardens like your own, Anne. A treasure for a long time to come. Rick
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It is not a small nivalis - the scape is about 13 cm long. And the flower - though only a single one - really stands out. The green seems to glow. It has (for the time being) definitely become my favourite snowdrop.
Really nice flower. Thanks for the information about the size, I was just thinking about how pictures or snowdrops are usually close-ups, and it is difficult to know the real size of the flower and the plant.
What might be the biggest "green" snowdrop?
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I have a feeling that it depends a lot on the soil, Leena. 'Cowhouse Green' is the tallest in my garden.
@ Alan: you are quite right. And I was worried because G.M. poked its nose out quite late. But I've never lost a snowdrop yet (touch wood) - otherwise I wouldn't have dared to buy it.
I heard about one person who tried twinscaling Green Mile and it didn't work very well. Could have been that particular bulb though.
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Thank you Anne. :)
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But I've never lost a snowdrop yet (touch wood)
Wow, Anne, that's some track record. You should get a medal for that, or some other award.
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Im still a baby-galanthophile, so it isn't saying much, Alan... And I only have about 100 varieties.
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100/100 is a tremendous success rate. I think we should all challenge you with our most difficult snowdrops.
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:) Try me.
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My Green Mile has just arrived! Very pleased, the bulb is great and the packaging excellent! Already potted up and in the bunker!
Many thanks to Robin and Clint, excellent service ;D ;D ;D
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Ho! Ho! Ho! Even more welcome than the arrival of Santa...Galanthus 'Green Mile' has broken surface ;D
This was acquired as a small bulb earlier this year and there was some discussion as to whether it would be successful. Good news is that it is through!
It is unlikely to flower this year but should be in full glory next! A welcome addition to the 'greens'.
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Goodness Santa comes early to your house! I, too, was very concerned that the newly separated small side bulb that I was sent would survive, happily it has sent forward growth for the last couple of weeks and, like yours may well flower next year or the one after ;)
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I have greatly admired 'Green Mile' from afar and I must admit to being very tempted by the offer from the Green Mile Nursery of smaller bulbs for a smaller price. But I did not succumb - yet. Maybe if it is gradually coming into wider circulation I will be able to do a swap in a few years' time.
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I have greatly admired 'Green Mile' from afar and I must admit to being very tempted by the offer from the Green Mile Nursery of smaller bulbs for a smaller price. But I did not succumb - yet. Maybe if it is gradually coming into wider circulation I will be able to do a swap in a few years' time.
Oh go on! Give in to temptation and treat yourself for once it's Christmas!
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David, unless you have a hotline to Santa it's a bit too late to get anything more for Christmas.
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I didn't know they were offering smaller bulbs
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From http://www.greenmilenursery.be/galanthus.html (http://www.greenmilenursery.be/galanthus.html)
After several years of bulking up our stock and many requests from all over the world we finally decided to release what is probably the finest plant we grow in our nursery, the green flowered Galanthus nivalis which my younger brother Robin found within a drift of white nivalis. We called it Galanthus 'Green Mile' and also decided to name our nursery after this extraordinary plant. We were very pleased to see that this fine plant not only looks amazing but also turns out to be a very good doer in the garden. We want to thank the people who supported our efforts to get Robin to New Zealand in order to make his dream come true. But unfortunately we weren't able to raise the necessary funds and things turned out differently for him. In the meanwhile we continued propagating our dearest snowdrop and are proud to be able to offer bulbs which will definitely flower in spring 2017. The price per bulb is 125 euro. It's possible to order your bulb from now on but the bulbs will be shipped when dormant which will be in june 2015! Payment can be made by Paypal or bank transfer. Your bulb will be reserved as soon as we have received your payment.
I'm sorry to learn that Robin Callens did not make it to New Zealand - I don't think that information was there last time I visited the site.
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David, unless you have a hotline to Santa it's a bit too late to get anything more for Christmas.
Dickens proved its never too late in a Christmas Carol!
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is it my computer or are the photos on the greenmile web site pulled out of shape
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Mark, they are set to stretch to the width of the table which in turn is set to the width of the screen. I found that by minimising my browser and changing the width of the browser window I could make them the right aspect ratio. Beautiful photos on the site, you just need to work a bit to see them properly ;D
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I also bought a small bulb of Green Mile last july and small it was!
As it was not through yet I carefully dug around it and to my relief there is a small nose showing.
It will need at least two growing seasons , tomatofeed and TLC to get to flowering size.
I sure hope it will grow on but I think I' ll never buy such a small bulb again.
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I e-mailed Green Mile Nursery recently to check what the position was this year (rather hoping the price might have come down).
Robin Callens confirmed that the position is pretty much the same as last year (i.e. 125 euros for a bulb that may not flower until second spring after receipt); also, which I can't recall from last year - mature bulbs are being offered at 400 euros a pop (bulbs which have apparently flowered for several years).
Both are outside what I would want to pay, so I'm inclined to wait for the price to come down to a level nearer my budget, whenever that might be.
Bulbs shipped dormant as last year.