Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: Rick Goodenough on November 03, 2017, 01:30:20 AM
-
Friends,
Here is a G. r-o which is in its prime on this warm autumn day, about 70F/21C in SE Massachusetts, U.S. This is an un-named cultivar from a U.S. source, Edelweiss Perennials.
Rick
-
Lovely picture Rick and 21C in Massachusetts sounds delightful!
-
21 degrees - flowers, and dry leaves ! Bliss!
-
Thank you Gail and Maggie! I have another treasure dropping and opening today in the garden. This is a Melvyn Jope selection, G. r-o 'Sofia'.
Rick
-
Very nice snowdrops Rick. I love the combination of leaves and snowdrops in autumn:
Barnes
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/4eanh3f8c57m5vs/FB_IMG_1508613086404.jpg?dl=1)
-
Galanthus ‘Smaragdsplitter’ (meaning Emerald Splinter, I'm told). It is standing very tall on a scape that is bolt upright.
[attachimg=1]
I got this in April 2015 as a single bulb with a small offset. It did not manage to flower in 2015 but the full-sized bulb produced a flower last year and again this. Unfortunately it remains a single bulb with a non-flowering offset so it is not proving to be terribly vigorous for me, so far. Hitherto it has been 'quarantined' in a pot but perhaps now it's time to try it in a bed?
This one, called 'Kryptonite' I only got earlier this year and this is the first time I have seen it flower. If I remember my Superman comics, there were different sorts of Kryptonite in different colours but green Kryptonite was the most common form. As a snowdrop it is very striking but I have no idea what it will be like to grow. I was told that it is not reliably early but this year it is.
[attachimg=2]
A few years ago I would have thought that an early elwesii with green markings on the outer petals was so statistically unlikely that I would never see one. I wonder where these 'impossibilities' originate from?
-
Hello,
-
Hello Marie-Rose, welcome to the forum. Lovely to see these brave snowdrops forced their way through the snow!
I wonder where these 'impossibilities' originate from?
Alan, I always think these types originate in the west of the Czech Republic as the earlier introductions were all found there I believe.
-
Hello Marie-Rose, a delightful photo - a reminder of the time of year for sure!
It even felt "cold enough for snow" here yesterday.
-
Hello and welcome, Marie-Rose. I have snowdrops here now but no snow to go with them.
Alan, I always think these types originate in the west of the Czech Republic as the earlier introductions were all found there I believe.
I looked-up elwesii in the Monograph and that does not even mention the Czech republic (or Slovakia) as a place where elwesii snowdrops can be found. The Monograph suggests that the majority of the elwesii that have been imported from Turkey over the years have perished but natural selection has left us with ones that are best-adapted to the climate of Northern Europe. I worry that exotic green-marked autumn-flowering elwesii snowdrops that have appeared recently are being 'fast-tracked' and may not prove garden-worthy. Although perhaps they can be cross-bred with other ones that are in order to improve the stock.
-
Yes of course I meant the nivalis types from the Czech Republic have that colouring, but considering where Jorg lives it is not a vast leap from there to cross with elwesii and hopefully get such lovely snowdrops. After all someone put a single elwesii in a population of nivalis and the bees did the work to create a new snowdrop.
-
Galanthus ‘Smaragdsplitter’
I almost ordered this from Glen Chantry last summer, but luckily found in the forum posts that it is very early flowering, and indeed, if it flowers already this time in Britain, then it won't do here. It is good to know that also 'Kryptonite' is autumn flowering snowdrop.
My attempts with autumn flowering snowdrops have all failed. In 2015 I planted 'Tilebarn Jamie', 'Cambridge' and an unnamed G.reginae-olgae. That autumn was mild and they all managed to flower, especially the unnamed one, but in all of them the leaves suffered a lot during the following winter even under snow. Autumn 2016 only the unnamed managed to get to bud stage before the winter came in early November, the other two were just showing their noses at that time, and never produced leaves even in the spring. Also the leaves of the unnamed were very damaged in the spring when the snow melted.
This autumn there was no sign of any of them in late October, and when they promised snow I dug the place where they were growing and didn't find any bulbs at all. Most likely the bulbs had diminished when they hadn't had no or very damaged leaves to feed the bulbs in earlier years. They were all planted in the sunniest place I have, in a dryish slope with good soil.
It seems to me that only the snowdrops which come up in September have time to flower here, and even the ones which flower in that time in Britain or Germany do not flower here in September, but come up a month later when it is too late and too cold for them. :( It is the same with Colchicums and autumn Crocuses, they all come up here later than the same cultivars or species in Britain, but especially Colchicums still early enough to flower.
-
My attempts with autumn flowering snowdrops have all failed. In 2015 I planted 'Tilebarn Jamie', 'Cambridge' and an unnamed G.reginae-olgae.
I think you chose the wrong species, Leena. Even in the UK we can struggle to grow reginae-olgae outdoors (and peshmenii is well-nigh impossible). But elwesii might prove more hardy; 'Barnes', for example, is vigorous and therefore inexpensive.
-
Alan, you must be right, also the last two winters were cold with very little snow in beginning of January, more snow came later in January and February. G.elwesii seems to be hardy enough to grow here, though I have tried 'Barnes' and it never came up. Perhaps I should give it a one more try. 'Mrs Macnamara' (even though it is not elwesii) flowers earlier in Britain, but even though it may show it's nose in December also here, it waits nicely until most of the winter is over before it flowers in February-March, even in April. Many times it has fully developed flower inside the snow and ready to open when the snow melts. It also increases well.
When I started to collect snowdrops I thought only late ones are good to grow here, but now I think also ones which flower after Christmas in Britain, may do well here flowering just later in the spring. So planting also earlier flowering snowdrops may lengthen the snowdrop time also here a bit. :)
-
Leena
Have you tried Peter Gatehouse? Its tough as old boots.
Steve
-
No, I haven't, thanks for the tip. I see that it is in Glen Chantry's list and cheap, too. :)
-
Hello all, wanted to share images of snowdrops blooming this week in Virginia: G. elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse' and hiemalis v. monostictus early form, and G. reginae-olgae 'Cambridge' and two un-named cultivars.
-
Hello all, wanted to share images of snowdrops blooming this week in Virginia: G. elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse' and hiemalis v. monostictus early form, and G. reginae-olgae 'Cambridge' and two un-named cultivars.
They look great.
-
No, I haven't, thanks for the tip. I see that it is in Glen Chantry's list and cheap, too. :)
Two others earlies that are dependable and inexpensive are Hollis and Rainbow Farm Early.
-
Hello all, wanted to share images of snowdrops blooming this week in Virginia: G. elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse' and hiemalis v. monostictus early form, and G. reginae-olgae 'Cambridge' and two un-named cultivars.
Great to see all of these going in your garden at this early point in the season. Way to go, Timothy.
And Steve, great to know your recommendation of G. Hollis as it is a new one to me. Thank you!
Rick
-
Very nice snowdrops Rick. I love the combination of leaves and snowdrops in autumn:
Barnes
Thank you, Yanik. And your image of G. 'Barnes' is stunning with the rain, leaves and such a finely formed drop.
Rick
-
Thanks Rick!
As for the hardy snowdrops: I live in a pretty cold place in Switzerland and all the early elwesiis mentioned are very hardy. If they freeze to death I would be very surprized.
I also own a very hardy r.o. that I can leave in the garden without protection. And I live at 937 m.a.s.l. (yes, we got snow some days ago already)
-
Galanthus reginae-olgae "early form", ex. Taygetos Mountains, Greece. It is literally the earliest snowdrop at my place... ;D
-
A lovely photo and a great drop.
-
A lovely photo and a great drop.
Thanks, Brian :) :) :)
-
A friend of mine spot this relatively yellowish flower in a number of potted snowdrops at a local green centre several years ago and gave me its surplus bulb.
Then, is it a regular variation in colours, please?
-
A friend of mine spot this relatively yellowish flower from a number of potted snowdrops at a local green centre several years ago and gave me its surplus bulb.
Then, is it a regular variation in colours?
I do not believe that an example of Galanthus reginae-olgae with yellow markings is known in cultivation so this is a very rare snowdrop indeed. I presume this is a reginae-olgae, producing flowers before the leaves? Are the leaves normal when they emerge or is the whole plant yellowish?
-
A friend of mine spot this relatively yellowish flower from a number of potted snowdrops at a local green centre several years ago and gave me its surplus bulb.
Then, is it a regular variation in colours, please?
One to treasure indeed. If it is indeed G.reginæ-olgæ, as Alan suggests, I know of only one other.
-
A friend of mine spot this relatively yellowish flower from a number of potted snowdrops at a local green centre several years ago and gave me its surplus bulb.
Then, is it a regular variation in colours, please?
Pale and perfect, YT!
-
Thank you, Alan, Brian and Maggi :)
The friend of mine labelled this flower as “Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus”. Probably he tried to ID it. Both he and I are not galanthophile at the moment ::) and I will post pictures here again when its leaves emerging.
-
The strange year continues apace, Santa Claus is going over and today Remember Remember flowering late! Clumping nicely and the satellite clump also doing well.
Many of the Tier 1 yellows are above ground but the green-tips are slower, completely about-face for my micro climate.
Scottish drops are ahead of schedule, never a dull moment.
-
Winter drops seem to be galloping into flower chez Ingrid! There'll be nothing left for the spring at this rate!
-
Thank you, Alan, Brian and Maggi :)
The friend of mine labelled this flower as “Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus”. Probably he tried to ID it. Both he and I are not galanthophile at the moment ::) and I will post pictures here again when its leaves emerging.
With elwesii monostictus Hiemalis Group you usually see at least the very top of the leaves when the flower emerges so unless you are using deep grit on the surface of the pot I think that is unlikely to be the correct identification. Also a yellow elwesii is virtually unknown apart from one example where the whole plant is yellowish.
One to treasure indeed. If it is indeed G.reginæ-olgæ, as Alan suggests, I know of only one other.
Should I know about this one, Brian, or is it under wraps?
-
With elwesii monostictus Hiemalis Group you usually see at least the very top of the leaves when the flower emerges so unless you are using deep grit on the surface of the pot I think that is unlikely to be the correct identification. Also a yellow elwesii is virtually unknown apart from one example where the whole plant is yellowish.
Thank you for your practical advice for correct identification, Alan :) Here are pictures taken after removing surface layer.
-
Thank you for your practical advice for correct identification, Alan :) Here are pictures taken after removing surface layer.
I really need to be more patient and wait for the leaves to emerge. But from what we can see, I think that does look more like Galanthus elwesii than any other likely species. And if it came from a Garden Centre (or similar) then it is more likely to be elwesii than reginae olgae - unless bulb imports are very different in Japan.
-
A group of 'Peter Gatehouse' on a cold day. A feature of this snowdrop that I really love is that you still glimpse the green mark on the inner petals when the outers are tightly closed.
[attachimg=1]
In another part of the garden a flower is emerging on another 'Peter Gatehouse'. I thought the emergent leaves were reminiscent of those just visible in Yamanaka's picture.
[attachimg=2]
-
I really need to be more patient and wait for the leaves to emerge. But from what we can see, I think that does look more like Galanthus elwesii than any other likely species. And if it came from a Garden Centre (or similar) then it is more likely to be elwesii than reginae olgae - unless bulb imports are very different in Japan.
Thank you again, Alan :) I'll post pictures of its leaves here later.
I think sources of snowdrop bulbs for garden centres in JP are same as in EU.
-
A group of 'Peter Gatehouse' on a cold day. A feature of this snowdrop that I really love is that you still glimpse the green mark on the inner petals when the outers are tightly closed.
(Attachment Link)
This is really a desirable feature in Galanthus elwesii, Alan!
The weather was more kind in our part of the world, it made even bumblebees fly. And more autumn-flowering Galanthus elwesii spread their outers.
[attachimg=1]
-
[attachimg=1]
This is a snowdrop I selected two years ago, with the permission of the owner, from a small village garden in Cambridgeshire. There was colony of early snowdrops, all similarly marked, and I chose a clump that seemed strong and vigorous. It did not flower until early January last year and I imagine it will average out to be mid-December flowering. Its unusual feature is that it is not a monostictus; the mark on the inner petals looks face-like to me. In fact it reminds me of somebody with a big moustache and glasses.
-
Alan, a very nice and quite early elwesii var elwesii. The face is delightful. Good luck with it and I hope it is stable and a good doer for you. We have had terrible weather for photographing drops in that they are not wanting to open up in these conditions. Yesterday I snapped this shot of Melvyn Jope's introduction G. reginae olgae 'Sofia' and have measured it at 8" or 20.3cm from ground to tip of spathe. It is tall and strong and has been in bloom for several weeks now, the amazing thing is that it was lying prostrate following a 24F/-4.5C night and then followed by much rain and gale force winds...a beast which I am delighted to be growing!
-
.... the mark on the inner petals looks face-like to me. In fact it reminds me of somebody with a big moustache and glasses.
Kenneth Branagh's Poirot?
;D
cheers
fermi
-
Photos from Harald Alex in Germany, who writes :
1. - the first Galanthus reginae-olgae started in 2.10.17
[attachimg=1]
2. - two of the G. r.o. have two flowerstems per bulb.
[attachimg=2]
3. - the G. r.o. Pontus, I got from Ian Christie, flowers end october
[attachimg=3]
4 - the G. r.o. Elenii, also from Ian Christie, started in 13.11.17
[attachimg=4]
5. - one group of my seedlings of G. elwesii starts in 19.11.17, earlier than "Three Ships", for me really a surprise!
[attachimg=5]
-
Amongst the range of very competitively priced plant collections recently made available by Neal and Sue Huntley's Hartside Nursery Garden is the following:-
6 Special Named Snowdrops Collection priced at £30 plus £8.50 P&P I have extracted the following from Neal's catalogue.
"".........We will provide a selection from the following:- 'Blonde Inge'; 'Modern Art'; 'Wasp'; 'Three Ships'; 'Trumps'; 'Trimmer' and others. All are potted and starting to root and grow.......""
For those interested Neal or Sue can be contacted at Hartside Nursery Garden, Near Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3BL; by email at enquiriesATplantswithaltitude.co.uk (as usual replace AT with @) and by phone/text 01434 381372
Anyone who would like to see a copy of the entire Collections range email me for a copy of the catalogue.
-
Amongst the range of very competitively priced plant collections recently made available by Neal and Sue Huntley's Hartside Nursery Garden is the following:-
6 Special Named Snowdrops Collection priced at £30 plus £8.50 P&P I have extracted the following from Neal's catalogue.
"".........We will provide a selection from the following:- 'Blonde Inge'; 'Modern Art'; 'Wasp'; 'Three Ships'; 'Trumps'; 'Trimmer' and others. All are potted and starting to root and grow.......""
I think that, individually, each of those named snowdrops would typically sell for over £10 so to get six for £38.50 is a real bargain, particularly appropriate for someone starting-out who doesn't already have any of those snowdrops.
-
Photos from Harald Alex in Germany, who writes :
1. - the first Galanthus reginae-olgae started in 2.10.17
2. - two of the G. r.o. have two flowerstems per bulb.
3. - the G. r.o. Pontus, I got from Ian Christie, flowers end october
4 - the G. r.o. Elenii, also from Ian Christie, started in 13.11.17
5. - one group of my seedlings of G. elwesii starts in 19.11.17, earlier than "Three Ships", for me really a surprise!
[attachimg=1]
.... snowdrop bulbs show big Elwesii bulbs with a black skincover (1. + 2.row left), white Elwesii bulbs in the middle and Elwesii bulbs from Gardencenter right!
-
Thank You, Maggi Young for supposing me in replying snowdrop fotos!
The former foto with the snowdrop bulbs show big Elwesii bulbs with a black scincover (1. + 2.row left), white Elwesii bulbs in the middle and Elwesii bulbs from Gardencenter right!
I am glad that I have found here a forum vor all questions of snowdrops, other ornamental bulbs and alpine plants.
Thank You for the warm wellcome!
-
Happy to help, Harald!
-
Welcome to the Forum Harald.
-
Hello Harald; welcome to the forum. All healthy snowdrop bulbs are white if you remove the dead outer tunic. I tend to do this routinely to verify the health of the bulb. If the bulb has been stored in dry conditions the outer tunic becomes brown, dry and very thin. If the bulb has been stored in wet conditions the tunic tends to become black and mushy. Your photograph shows examples of wet, none and dry.
-
Hallo Alan, thank You for Your interesting comment to my bulbfoto. I am glad to find here so a great forum, where I can learn news about snowdrops.
Two years ago my wife and I visited with a group of german galanthophile with Laade-Gartenreisen Snowdrop-parks and -gardens east of England, so the Walsingham Abbey or Anglesey Abbey, where we was impressioned from the huge amounts of flowering snowdrops in the beautiful parks!
Since several years I have some Elwesii Snowdrops in my garden and I found spontan seedlings of them! This was very interesting vor me and after I am retired, I started to collect snowdrops! With the Queen Olga`s the flowersaison is here from begin october till begin of April, nearly 6 month!
In the next februar I and my wife come to Scottland with Laade-Gartenreisen, where Ian Christie will show us snowdrop places of Northengland and Scottland, so Dunblane or Castle Cambo!
Greetings from Germany
Harald
-
Some early beauties out today.
First is Lady Alice from Ian Christie. This has gorgeous deep green markings and a lovely shape and seems to be thriving in the warm South.
Next, one of Andy Byfield's specials Twister, named after the extreme twisting of the leaves which are reminiscent of Ridley Scott and Alien. Probbly a hybrid between Galanthus elwesii and G. gracilis. A beautiful drop which is very vigorous both in the pot and the garden. I keep encouraging Andy to make this drop more available.
Finally Smaragdsplitter, with green marks this year.
Some very nice yellows on the way as well.
-
Both 'Lady Alice' and 'Twister' are completely new to me, Ingrid. Are they usually this early to flower? I have tried and failed to get Ian Christie to identify which of his snowdrops are really early-flowering. What species is 'Lady Alice'? And where would an elwesii find a gracilis in flower to hybridise with at this time of year (this last question is rhetorical)? I don't know if you noticed but 'Twister' has very small green marks at the base of the outer petals. Green tips are commonplace but green marks at the base are rare.
-
Hello
Some Galanthus in bloom in the garden in mid November
Exuse me my English is very bad.
DSC 2692 : Galanthus 'Dorothy Foreman'
DSC 2711 : Galanthus 'Donald Sims Early'
DSC 2721 : Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. reginae-olgae 'Hyde Lodge'
DSC 2731 : Galanthus 'Advent'
Marie-Rose & Alain
-
Hallo Marie-Rose, this are fine fotos of Your snowdrops. Best of this I like Galanthus r-o Hyde Lodge with the wite randed green marks.
-
Sheds and Outhouse with full green inner and nice green tips.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
-
Gert,
That is just terrific. I wish I knew the story on the name! I am not aware of any other elwesii with that amount of green this early. Nice!
Rick
-
Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp vernalis 'Alex Duguid' blooming today in the garden. Late November is quite early for a G. r-o subsp vernalis here in New England. Delighted to be growing it here and it seems happy with me with three blooms in its second year.
Excitement is building!
Rick
[attachimg=1]
-
Sheds and Outhouse with full green inner and nice green tips.
Très Chic :) That would have got John Finch very excited! I remember him seeing it at The Garden House and snapping it up.
-
This is a North American introduced elwesii, G. 'Potter's Prelude' which is behaving as expected with a Thanksgiving bloom and leaves that arch/recurve early on.
Rick
[attachimg=1]
-
A very elegant selection, Rick! Are the outers as long as the pic suggests?
-
Thank you, Mariette,
Yes, it is a lovely selection for a November bloomer. Both the ovary and the outer segments are a bit longer than is typical. I am glad you like it.
Rick
-
We've got a drop coming out in the garden - unusual for us at this time of year.... Ian's taken its pic for the Bulb Log tomorrow.
I assume it's a reginae-olgae - they all look the same to me, as you know!!
-
Maggi, it is fun to have them coming out and blooming so early...I will keep my eye out for Ian's Log. Rick
-
This is my early to mid November blooming G. elwesii monostictus, 'Mayfair Chapel' selection still blooming toward the end of November.
Rick[attachimg=1]
-
[attachimg=1]
Maggi, it is fun to have them coming out and blooming so early...I will keep my eye out for Ian's Log. Rick
This week's Bulb Log from Ian Young
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Nov291511955580BULB_LOG_4817.pdf (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Nov291511955580BULB_LOG_4817.pdf)
-
Lovely pictures Ian. So much to do and so little time. Getting very cold here now.
-
(Attachment Link)
This week's Bulb Log from Ian Young
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Nov291511955580BULB_LOG_4817.pdf (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Nov291511955580BULB_LOG_4817.pdf)
Thank you Maggi. Another beautiful Bulb Log from Ian. Beautiful rich autumn colors help make the transition to winter a bit easier...and the snowdrops and other autumn bloomers add to the beauty of the crisp autumn days.
Rick
-
I believe the Edulis galanthus list will be ready soon - email Paul Barney on edulisnursery@gmail.com to get a copy sent.
-
Flowering since late November: Galanthus cilicicus
-
I believe the Edulis galanthus list will be ready soon ...
Go to https://www.edulis.co.uk/ (https://www.edulis.co.uk/) then click on the link right at the top of the page ( https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0799/6067/files/Edulis-Galanthus-2018-sales_list.pdf (https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0799/6067/files/Edulis-Galanthus-2018-sales_list.pdf) ).
-
Surprise after a delivery of G. elwesii Snowdrops
After opening of a late delivery with Galanthus elwesii bulbs I was surprised to find two already flowering bulbs inside of the paket.
Some of other bulbs had sproutes 1-2 cm, and some other had not any sprouts. I selected the bulbs in three groups and planted they separate. Next year I will see, if there differences in flowering dates.
Foto 1. - two dry bulbs with flowers
Foto 2. - bulbs with developed sproutes 1 - 2 cm
Foto 3. - bulbs without sprouts