Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: annew on March 01, 2018, 05:01:25 PM
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Greenkeeper and Das Gelbe vom Ei today - Thank you Hagen!
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Nice, Anne!
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Amy Doncaster, looking fine before the snow:
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Galanthus elwesii 'polar bear' on sale at Intratuin garden centers in the Netherlands! 5 bulbs for €3,99.
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'Polar Bear' is a late-flowering elwesii with very large bulbs. I bought mine from Avon Bulbs in 2016; it has not flowered yet this year. I got a few bulbs but I think I paid more than €3.99.
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'Polar Bear' is a late-flowering elwesii with very large bulbs. I bought mine from Avon Bulbs in 2016; it has not flowered yet this year. I got a few bulbs but I think I paid more than €3.99.
Attached a picture of the flower and bulb size. I like it. :)
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Galanthus elwesii 'polar bear' on sale at Intratuin garden centers in the Netherlands! 5 bulbs for €3,99.
looks like it could well be the real Polar Bear, Edgar; this is the second time I've heard it for sale cheaply in NL - I think the growers have been busy chipping (you must get a lot of chips from such a plump bulb; suspect a mass produced yellow will be coming along before too long as well)
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looks like it could well be the real Polar Bear, Edgar; this is the second time I've heard it for sale cheaply in NL - I think the growers have been busy chipping (you must get a lot of chips from such a plump bulb; suspect a mass produced yellow will be coming along before too long as well)
Cool! I thought they were the real Polar Bear, but I'm no expert.
There seems to be a Dutch grower that mass produces them.. Hope they manage to do it with yellows as well. :)
Could this be a UK seller with similar bulbs?: https://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/garden-plants/spring-flowering-bulbs/snowdrops-in-bud-galanthus-nivalis-polar-bear-rare-variety (https://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/garden-plants/spring-flowering-bulbs/snowdrops-in-bud-galanthus-nivalis-polar-bear-rare-variety)
[Small update:]
Got an answer from the seller from the email address on the plants. I asked him where the bulbs came from.
Translation from Dutch:
We grow them on the land and break off the small bulbs.
use those for propagation.
we had the idea to make more people enthousiastic about the snowdrops through 'intratuin' garden centers.
they indeed priced them very competitively.
"we kweken ze op het land en breken de kleine bollen eraf.
gebruiken deze voor vermeerdering.
we hebben het idee om via intratuin meer mensen enthousiast te maken.
ze hebben ze idd heel scherp in de markt gezet
Met vriendelijke groeten,
Peter Komen
Dahliakwekerij M.J.Komen-Kruiswijk
Molenvaart 138
1761 AM Anna Paulowna
E.peter.komen@quicknet.nl
www.mjkomen.nl (http://www.mjkomen.nl) "
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Odd that Avon are also selling Polar Bear in 1 Litre pots this year!
Tim DH
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My guess is that the UK vendors, including Avon Bulbs, are all importing from the same source.
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"we kweken ze op het land en breken de kleine bollen eraf.
gebruiken deze voor vermeerdering.
we hebben het idee om via intratuin meer mensen enthousiast te maken.
ze hebben ze idd heel scherp in de markt gezet
Met vriendelijke groeten,
Peter Komen
Dahliakwekerij M.J.Komen-Kruiswijk
Molenvaart 138
1761 AM Anna Paulowna
E.peter.komen@quicknet.nl
www.mjkomen.nl (http://www.mjkomen.nl) "
Peter
I don't know if you will see this (if not maybe someone could pass this on to him), but good idea!
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Mainly Galanthuis nivalis is reappearing in the snow. The first picture shows Galanthus elwesii.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
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My guess is that the UK vendors, including Avon Bulbs, are all importing from the same source.
I wish someone would import them also to Finland! But I guess not. :(
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I wish someone would import them also to Finland! ..
Perhaps you have spotted a gap in the market and a business opportunity, Leena?
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;D ;D ;D
Big markets and flower shops sell potted Narcissus 'Tete a Tete' and Muscari (and some other spring bulbs sometimes) around Easter, and in April. I don't know if they buy them potted from abroad or if they are potted in Finland. No-one sells potted snowdrops (not even G.nivalis) here. :( The only time you can buy snowdrops here is dry bulbs in the autumn. I hope times will change and snowdrops will become more available so that more people will get to know them. Just last week I talked to someone in the village how in more "normal" spring I would have flowering snowdrops in March and she thought I was joking.
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Leena, about the same in Poland, despite we are a bigger market. Potted tulips, hyacinths, grape hyacinths or narcissi (not only Tete-a-Tete) - yes, not only in garden centres, also florists shops (today I have seen hyacinths in my local florist). But snowdrops or leucojum - never seen. I asked dr Google if "galanthus Polar Bear" can be found in Poland and answer is "no".
I know the price is low, but for Polish market it is too high.
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I know the price is low, but for Polish market it is too high.
It could be too high also for Finland, but also I think the problem is that buyers for markets and florists are not interested in snowdrops and don't know them. Everyone knows a tulip or narcissus, but what is snowdrop.. a small white flower. ::)
We come ten years behind Europe in gardening trends.
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We had here in East Germany two weeks snowfree weather with hard nightfrosts from -9 till -18 °C and sunny dry weather daysover, that mean extremly conditions for the snowdrops! After this time the damages was lighter than I thought:
The common G. nivalis had no damages.
The flowerstems of G. plicatus Wendys Gold was frostdamaged (Foto 1) and the green leaves of G. woronowii had serios damages (Foto 2). All the snowdrops, but also the lawn and the fieldcrops need WATER!
I was surprised, that all the snowdrop varieties survived this bad weather well (only some white flowerleaves are sometimes dry!)
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I was surprised, that all the snowdrop varieties survived this bad weather well (only some white flowerleaves are sometimes dry!)
Most snowdrops are surprisingly hardy, here they have to stand freezing night temperatures every year when they flower, and in the morning when the temperature rises they just stand up again and continue flowering. :) I agree with your observation that G.woronowii gets frost damage easier than others.
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Thank You, Leena, You have visited the same frost damages as I.
I am surprised, that also all springflowering Crocus varieties are undamaged and they didn`t stop flowering during the frosts.
Only the autumflowering G. speciosus leaves have light damages.
In Narcissus great and Tete a Tete the tops of the leaves died (Foto 1) and the leaves of Bluebells too (Foto 2). But I think, they will flowering yet!
Iris reticulata Beatrix Stanley is nearly undaamaged (Foto 3) and the sproutes of the black Fritillaria are OK too (Foto 4)
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Alan, here is an updated shot of your G.nivalis 'Green Light'. Still looking fine! Rick
[attachimg=1]
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Here is G. elwesii 'Green Brush' in the garden this week. Rick
[attachimg=1]
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We had here in East Germany two weeks snowfree weather with hard nightfrosts from -9 till -18 °C and sunny dry weather daysover, that mean extremly conditions for the snowdrops!
Here in the middle of Germany it was not colder than -15° but at the end of the cold weather period a layer of heavy snow followed for two days. The "Cordelia" flower was mud afterwards whereas the "Hippolytha" stands as if nothing had happened.
Hannelore
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Here in the middle of Germany it was not colder than -15° but at the end of the cold weather period a layer of heavy snow followed for two days. The "Cordelia" flower was mud afterwards whereas the "Hippolytha" stands as if nothing had happened.
Hannelore
Quite an interesting observation on the two doubles.
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Rick, how lovely green tipped snowdrops! :)
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Thank you, Leena.
Our winter started early and was very cold. It is still underway, but we have had a break from the bitter cold...lots of rain and snow now. But the snowdrops seem to love this more mild end to winter.
Rick
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Just a little from my garden today.
G. nivalis Flore Pleno. Just nothing, but I like it, the fat bud.
[attachimg=1]
No name, but I doubt it is plain nivalis - too big. But very elegant and slender looking.
[attachimg=2]
Just nivalis. Do I need more beauty?
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Observing how leaves develop.
[attachimg=4]
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Last photos of my first Galanthus nivalis, growing in Central Portugal and now already gone.
I've noticed how the outer tepals grow more pointed as the flower age.
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Jaime, it's interesting to see Galanthus growing in Portugal!
Do you know if there are any wild poplations exist in your country?
Gerd
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Do you know if there are any wild poplations exist in your country?
I have been studying the Wikipedia map recently https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthus#/media/File:Distribution_of_the_galanthus_species.png . According to this, snowdrops (nivalis) just cross the border between France and Spain but have not got near to Portugal. But perhaps there are naturalised populations as here in the UK?
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Hi Gerd, unfortunatly there's no wild Galanthus in Portugal. They are not very commun in gardens also, in fact I brought these ones "in the green" from the UK last year. I wasn't expecting much sucess but, it turns out they have grown quite well in my soil.
Jaime, it's interesting to see Galanthus growing in Portugal!
Do you know if there are any wild poplations exist in your country?
Gerd
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Thank you Alan, yes they seem to grow wild here in the Iberia close to the Pyrenees. Iberian flora has it and the natural distribution is northern Catalunha Aragon and Navarre.
I have been studying the Wikipedia map recently https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthus#/media/File:Distribution_of_the_galanthus_species.png . According to this, snowdrops (nivalis) just cross the border between France and Spain but have not got near to Portugal. But perhaps there are naturalised populations as here in the UK?
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Thank you for your reply Jaime!
I found Galanthus nivalis near Valdelinares/Teruel, which is quite south and far from the French border. So it would not be totally unimaginable to expect an occurence in Portugal. The site in Spain mentioned above is still poorly known and maybe there will be further places on the Iberian peninsula for this species.
Gerd
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A nice find today in the forrest
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Is such a plant with very keeled petals something special? It is stable, flowering the second year in my garden.
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Pauli, your snowdrop is a little reminiscent of 'Finchale Abbey', seen here: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4921.msg134600#msg134600 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4921.msg134600#msg134600) in John's 5th picture.
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Alan,
of course it is very similar. But mine was collected in the forest two years ago---
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Hello to all,
the beginning of the year was horrible for snowdrops and other early growing plants. The frosts, that visited my region devastated the plants in my garden, so I won't be able to cheer myself with their beauty. I really hope, that such weather anomalies won't happen regularly. I know what everyone must be living through with their plants, when I see frozen to death plants from other gardens. :(
Fortunately, in the wild the plants were covered with thick layer of leaves and in some other parts of Poland even with snow, so only a tiny fragment of the population look like damaged by the weather. My wife and I managed to find some new forms, one particularly should catch your attention.
1. 8160a - shows a chimera of which I was told, that does not propagate. Last year my wife found such form, this year I was the lucky one. Nice thing, pity it does not propagate...
2. 8223a - a form with entirely green inners and quite strong green marking on the outers. I know well, that there are forms named looking exactly the same, but still it was something my wife and I wanted to find.
3. 3237a - another chimera which... oh... wait... it propagates?! YES IT DOES! It seems, that it is all up to the region the new bulb is forming. If it would grow out of the green part, the offspring would be green. If it would grow from the chlorophyll free region, it would die at the moment it would detach from the mother plant, but if it would grow from the middle, than it would have both characteristics. It is all up to where the new plant would from from. It would be a nightmare to propagate. One of the plants was entirely green, out of all six markings on the inner petals five were green and one was purely yellow, meaning, that the plant still is a chimera, only in a tiny fragment. What an interesting plant and mutation this is! I wonder if the other two would propagate in same way.
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Hi Gerd,
thank you.
Those are good news, that part of Spain is drier than here in western Portugal, that means with the right soil, some shade and plenty of leaf mulch they might survive and maybe actually even thrive. I don't know of any known place with wild Galanthus in this country, and as we are smaller than Spain, botanists know the country very well, so probably is pretty certain that they do not exist wild in here.
My next step is to buy species known to do well in drier areas, Like reginae-olgae or peshmenii that some members already told me about. But The truth is I would like to try every single species! ;D
Jaime
Thank you for your reply Jaime!
I found Galanthus nivalis near Valdelinares/Teruel, which is quite south and far from the French border. So it would not be totally unimaginable to expect an occurence in Portugal. The site in Spain mentioned above is still poorly known and maybe there will be further places on the Iberian peninsula for this species.
Gerd
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My next step is to buy species known to do well in drier areas, Like reginae-olgae or peshmenii that some members already told me about. But The truth is I would like to try every single species! ;D
Jaime
Hi Jaime,
Central Victoria is quite hot and dry in summer with rain and frost in winter; Galanthus elwesii is the one that does the best here so might be worth trying in Lisboa
cheers
fermi
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Those are good news, that part of Spain is drier than here in western Portugal, that means with the right soil, some shade and plenty of leaf mulch they might survive and maybe actually even thrive. I don't know of any known place with wild Galanthus in this country, and as we are smaller than Spain, botanists know the country very well, so probably is pretty certain that they do not exist wild in here.
My next step is to buy species known to do well in drier areas, Like reginae-olgae or peshmenii that some members already told me about. But The truth is I would like to try every single species!
Hello Jaime,
about our ordinary Galanthus nivalis I learned, that they are plants that live underneath foliage trees. In winter and spring, when the trees have no leaves, the snowdrops get water and light. In summer, when the trees are green, the snowdrops get shadow and no water because the trees take all. So I think you can plant any type of snowdrop in your region if you consider this life cycle.
BW
Hannelore
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Hi Jaime,
Central Victoria is quite hot and dry in summer with rain and frost in winter; Galanthus elwesii is the one that does the best here so might be worth trying in Lisboa
cheers
fermi
I was also going to suggest elwesii. It's a readily-available species, less expensive than reginae-olgae or peshmenii if you start with just bulbs of the species rather than named cultivars..
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A grey and miserable morning patrol, only one major topic of conversation here while reviewing my late drops!
A new one from Andy Byfield, 'Tall, Dark & Handsome' one of the Flete gracilis another real beauty. I first saw this on a visit to Andy and immediately placed it on my wish list. It has a gorgeous inner dark green marking, with a slight bleed towards the ovary. The depth of the green is eye catching and complements Andy's series of Andrea's Fault and Whiter Than White. When this becomes more widely available it is a must have.
Next Creme Anglaise, a new Poc for me from the Thorps. There is a view that all Pocs look the same but although this one is pretty, it is not of the calibre of Annielle or Swan Lake. Like all drops from the Thorps it is increasing well.
Boyd's Double, I seem to be growing more of the 'freak drops' than I imagined. Very slow to increase but a lovely green colouration.
Fieldgate Forte/ex Fortissimo, which is bulking well, despite the name change.
Greenkeeper from Anne Wright, increasing well, for me. This is my second clump and pot grown. Both this and the garden clump are doing well.
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The depth of green on 'Tall, Dark & Handsome' is very pleasing -
the contrast of the dark green with the white is good and I like that the ovary is the same dark colour.
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It is so nice to see your snowdrops in pictures! Here they are still under snow (and underground) and waiting for spring.
I found older pictures of one of my favourite snowdrop, 'Diggory'. I planted one fat bulb in summer 2013 and in the first picture it is in spring 2014 and in the second picture last spring 2017, so it has multiplied quite well. :) I have found that G.plicatus does pretty well in my garden, as well as G.nivalis, but G.elwesii is much slower to multiply and grow.
Also two pictures of 'Ray Cobb' planted one bulb the same summer 2013 and in the first picture it is in spring 2014 and in the second picture last spring. It hasn't multiplied as well as 'Diggory', but I'm very happy with it all the same. :)
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They are doing well for you, Leena. Coping well with your long winters - I'll be looking forward to the pictures of them this year.
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Thanks Maggi. :) It is amazing how well they adapt to growing here. Usually the first winter/spring is the most difficult and many
snowdrops planted the previous year try to come up early, almost the same time as they would in more south, but from second year on they come up later, and so cope better with the cold.
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Love the shape of this gracilis with its 38mm outers with an 11mm claw.
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A double nivalis just coming into flower that I have nicknamed graboid! (From the film tremors) As they will stay the same as you see in the pic and never opens up and always points outwards.
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Particularly like the gracilis. Don’t usually like funny doubles but yours has a certain charm. They both seem to be vigorous.
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Back in 2007, I got this snowdrop as Ketton from Kath Dryden, but it doesn't look like the other photos of Ketton on Google. Anybody any idea what it is?
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Not many photos on the 'net of 'Ketton' are of the same plant it seems! Quite a variety of marks being shown by assorted nurseries :-X :-\
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Thanks David
The gracilis is a strong plant. I'm not a real fan of the spikeys but this I think is somewhere between and I have 5 more pots of it.
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My wife and I managed to find some new forms, one particularly should catch your attention.
1. 8160a - shows a chimera of which I was told, that does not propagate. Last year my wife found such form, this year I was the lucky one. Nice thing, pity it does not propagate...
3. 3237a - another chimera which... oh... wait... it propagates?!
Really interesting chimeras Chris which remind me of the Agapanthus 'San Gabriel' owned by the much-missed John Finch (Kent Gardener). I bought a 'San Gabriel' from the then National Collection holder and it doesn't have that lovely half-and-half leaf but a more regular stripe - I assume that would probably also happen with your snowdrop??
Bottom image is John's plant, top is mine (as received!).[attachimg=2][attachimg=1]
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Back in 2007, I got this snowdrop as Ketton from Kath Dryden, but it doesn't look like the other photos of Ketton on Google. Anybody any idea what it is?
Maybe ´Edinburgh Ketton´? That one ought to have roughly an X-mark, whereas ´Ketton´has more rounded outers, a very dainty apical mark and a hint of pale eyes at the base, according to the bible.
´Ketton´
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Leena, I like Your combination of blowsy ´Diggory´above upright crocus very much!
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Cephalotus, I´m very sorry for Your lost season in the garden! Your chimeras look fascinating, especially the very regular first one. Was the offspring normally coloured, or did it simply not bulk up?
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Hi Jaime,
Central Victoria is quite hot and dry in summer with rain and frost in winter; Galanthus elwesii is the one that does the best here so might be worth trying in Lisboa.
cheers
fermi
Thank you Fermi, that is amazing because you know what, I really LOVE Galanthus elwesii!... I like the broader leaves and the flower is impressive, ever since I've seen it in the UK I became a fan of that species. I thought uhm.. these are really pretty. :D
Hello Jaime,
about our ordinary Galanthus nivalis I learned, that they are plants that live underneath foliage trees. In winter and spring, when the trees have no leaves, the snowdrops get water and light. In summer, when the trees are green, the snowdrops get shadow and no water because the trees take all. So I think you can plant any type of snowdrop in your region if you consider this life cycle.
BW
Hannelore
Hi Hannelore, Thank you for you advise and that is a very helpful sugestion. You know, I've always thought the problem would be our very dry Summer, but even Galanthus nivalis, as I've been shown, can be found wild in hot summer regions like Italy and parts of Greece. Of course, still in its native distribution area it might still prefere fresh places like woodlands or a humid valley. That's why under decidous trees might be the best place to try them in here, they get all the light they need in winter and after spring they stay fresh under the canopy and with lots of leaf mulch for isolation, but a bit on the dry side because of watter intake from tree roots.
I was also going to suggest elwesii. It's a readily-available species, less expensive than reginae-olgae or peshmenii if you start with just bulbs of the species rather than named cultivars..
Thank you for your answer Alan, I can easily get G. elwesii from the Dutch supplier from where I buy some bulbs in September. They have only few Galanthus varieties/species and G. elwesii it is one of them and they are not expensive at all.
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Leena, I like Your combination of blowsy ´Diggory´above upright crocus very much!
Thank you, Mariette. :)
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Maybe ´Edinburgh Ketton´? That one ought to have roughly an X-mark, whereas ´Ketton´has more rounded outers, a very dainty apical mark and a hint of pale eyes at the base, according to the bible.
´Ketton´
I wondered if it was, but the X on Edinburgh Ketton is very bold.
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Saw these tucked away under Camellias at Wisley today. It has plicate leaves and is a substantial drop. Any ideas?
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Beluga looking good today.
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Beluga looking good today.
Hallo Shauney, Your Belugas looks strong and big in the flower, I found a online gardencenter "gardening express", who offers 5 Belugas in one pot for 7,99 Pounds, the same price for 5 "Polar Bear" in one pot! I try it with the two!
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a very big flower and two flowers for one bulb I found in a collection of wildgrown G. elwesii (Foto1)
Foto2: a seedling hybride between G. nivalis and G. elwesii.
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As the season ends it is worth remembering those varieties that increase swiftly and provide stunning clumps in the garden. Well worth adding to your collection if you are looking for rapid clumping.
Gold Sovereign from Anne Wright, it does not matter if it is a grey day, it becomes a beacon of yellow, or a sunny day it glows. It moves beautifully in even the slightest breeze.
Morgana from Andy Byfield, still the best of the virescents in my view. In a clump it is breath taking.
Hughes Emerald, one of my personal favourites! Gorgeous flowers and it remains an eye opener for weeks.
Faint Heart, from Paul Barney, has proved to be even better than Paul described it. A lovely light green marking with good height it makes a statement in the garden.
Lucy, of all the 'blob drops' this stands head and shoulders above the rest. Another variety that flowers for an extended period.
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I think I first heard of 'Lucy' when Chas W mentioned buying one at Myddleton a couple of years ago - was it bred by Richard and Valerie of WoodChippings?
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I think I first heard of 'Lucy' when Chas W mentioned buying one at Myddleton a couple of years ago - was it bred by Richard and Valerie of WoodChippings?
Yes Maggs, I believe so. It grows like fury ;D
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Saw these tucked away under Camellias at Wisley today. It has plicate leaves and is a substantial drop. Any ideas?
leaves look more elwesii than plicatus. Tips are hooded and folds forward rather than back
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Here's a very large flowered byzantinus with flowers held on very long pedicels. It has grown to be one of my favourites and seems to be bulking quite well after taking some time to settle down. Sister bulbs (could be same clone or very similar) are doing well in two gardens. Flowers are very substantial and got larger than these photos (from March 11th). Largest outer measured at just over 45mm a couple of days ago, with longest pedicel of a very similar length. Good glaucous foliage too.
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Another large byzantinus, this time a face type find from this year (Maggi, this is how the 'bow tie' one posted to February page developed - this photo from March 11 and now gone over); third photo is a daughter bulb, so will see how develops next year on markings front
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This one is a substantial textured petal byzantinus that has produced a four petal flower this year on a plant in the ground (one I have potted I initially selected did this last year but not this year; they need further observation to see how frequently 4x4s are produced although seems occasional). Outers are quite nicely shouldered.
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leaves look more elwesii than plicatus. Tips are hooded and folds forward rather than back
Or woronowii, possibly, given the leaf colour and shape of the inner petal mark. The secret is to look down at the base of the leaves from directly above; it should then be obvious then if they are supervolute.
Those are all nice byzantinus finds, Josh. There are large quantities of naturalised plicatus in my area. I have been looking carefully at them and they are all of the Crimean sort (var. plicatus) with a single apical mark on the inner petals. Occasionally this mark extends more than half way towards the base and more rarely still one sees a sort of H shape but never two marks. The exception that proves the rule is one grave in the churchyard will a few different small forms of the byzantinus type. Given its position directly on top of the grave the original was probably brought in from elsewhere and planted there and has since set seed. But the statistics in my area are very much in favour of soldiers bringing back their snowdrops from the battlefields of the Crimea rather than the area around the hospital near Istanbul.
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Or woronowii, possibly, given the leaf colour and shape of the inner petal mark. The secret is to look down at the base of the leaves from directly above; it should then be obvious then if they are supervolute.
Good point Alan, I didn't think further than leaf shape; a closer look shows green leaves and general appearance looks much more like woronowii or ikariae; latter looks best bet; see e.g.: http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/diaries/NorthWales/A+cold+and+dreary+March+Entry+/660/ (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/diaries/NorthWales/A+cold+and+dreary+March+Entry+/660/)
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soldiers bringing back their snowdrops from the battlefields of the Crimea rather than the area around the field hospital near Istanbul.
Thanks Alan, didn't know about the field hospital near Istanbul; that might help researching the byzantinus population - certainly provides a possibility of a link
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Thanks Alan, didn't know about the field hospital near Istanbul; that might help researching the byzantinus population - certainly provides a possibility of a link
Not I but Blonde Ingrid who made this observation. Perhaps "field hospital" is not quite the right description but Florence Nightingale treated soldiers wounded in the Crimean war at a barracks near Istanbul. This was, to quote the Wikipedia entry:
about 295 nautical miles (546 km; 339 mi) across the Black Sea from Balaklava in the Crimea, where the main British camp was based.
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Not I but Blonde Ingrid who made this observation. Perhaps "field hospital" is not quite the right description but Florence Nightingale treated soldiers wounded in the Crimean war at a barracks near Istanbul. This was, to quote the Wikipedia entry:
Ah, yes - thanks to Ingrid; I do recall now!
Looks to be Scutari on eastern side of the Bosphorus - quite near to byzantinus and not far from gracilis populations
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A couple of elwesii for a change, from a clients garden this March. One with interesting face with unusual apical mark; the other with a nice shape and simple, bold apical mark and small green tips to outers:
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Very beautiful finds, Josh! To me, they look more tempting than most named varieties. You´re lucky to have access to places where Galanthus plicatus is naturalized in Britain; in Germany, You´ll find only G. nivalis and occasionally the odd G. elwesii, which was disposed with garden waste.
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A very late, and VERY tiny perfect double - Hatpin. I do love tiny things.. :D
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Very beautiful finds, Josh! To me, they look more tempting than most named varieties. You´re lucky to have access to places where Galanthus plicatus is naturalized in Britain; in Germany, You´ll find only G. nivalis and occasionally the odd G. elwesii, which was disposed with garden waste.
Thanks Mariette. It was finding the population that led to me acquiring (collecting perhaps, though I am loathe to admit it!) named snowdrop varieties; partly to compare and, in some cases, as I wanted to add different genes and characteristics to my plicatus selections for breeding or natural seeding.
I thought the byzantinus were interesting as soon as I found them and stumbled upon the in-rolled 45mm outer one I posted a while ago. I had previously only divided and spread nivalis, a few S Arnott types and the odd elwesii (which I was distinctly sniffy abut on account of what I thought was their over-dominant foliage!).
Having now got and/or seen a great many different named cultivars, I think that a number of the byzantinus are better than many (at least to me) and I am going to chip some and distribute as I am now sure they are worth it (hopefully when I have also found out a bit more on their history, if this is possible). I think there is an element of over-naming though and however well they may compare to existing named varieties, I personally just love the variation in the population and the excitement of trying to see if anything unusual has cropped up that I hadn't noticed before or that was just a seedling or young plant on a previous visit.
We are indeed lucky in the UK to have large naturalised populations of plicatus and hybrids and the collecting by soldiers or those associated with wars, is not just interesting of itself but one of the few good legacies of the otherwise horror of warfare.
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A very late, and VERY tiny perfect double - Hatpin. I do love tiny things.. :D
That is definitely dinky, Anne!
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I personally just love the variation in the population and the excitement of trying to see if anything unusual has cropped up that I hadn't noticed before or that was just a seedling or young plant on a previous visit.
We are indeed lucky in the UK to have large naturalised populations of plicatus and hybrids and the collecting by soldiers or those associated with wars, is not just interesting of itself but one of the few good legacies of the otherwise horror of warfare.
You are indeed lucky to have naturalised population, and it is exciting trying to find new ones, and see all the variation.
I hope to have some day lot of seedlings (other than nivalis) in my garden and see different kinds there.
Does anyone know the origin of 'Hugh Mackenzie', and if it is fertile? I was wondering if it is related to German and Slovenian green tipped/virescent snowdrops?
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You are indeed lucky to have naturalised population, and it is exciting trying to find new ones, and see all the variation.
I hope to have some day lot of seedlings (other than nivalis) in my garden and see different kinds there.
Does anyone know the origin of 'Hugh Mackenzie', and if it is fertile? I was wondering if it is related to German and Slovenian green tipped/virescent snowdrops?
I love the anticipation of seedlings and what they might be or become. My first seedlings flowered this year, sown 2015; exciting to watch them flower and develop.
I believe Hugh Mackenzie (and, presumably, Fiona Mackenzie) is indeed from Slovenia or nearby; someone should be able to confirm.
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I love the anticipation of seedlings and what they might be or become. My first seedlings flowered this year, sown 2015; exciting to watch them flower and develop.
I believe Hugh Mackenzie (and, presumably, Fiona Mackenzie) is indeed from Slovenia or nearby; someone should be able to confirm.
Found at the web:
Galanthus nivalis 'Hugh Mackenzie'
AM (Award of Merit)
Origin: A seedling raised by Ruby and David Baker
A clone, which is flowering rather late here, and taller with greater shape then the virescens dwarfs from Slovenia
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Thank you Josh and Gerhard. :) Cox book says it was named in UK, that's why I didn't know about it's origin, but it is good to know where it is from. I planted it last summer, it will be nice to see how it looks in reality. :)
My first seedlings flowered this year, sown 2015; exciting to watch them flower and develop.
Than was very fast! I sowed seeds from my own yellow snowdrops summer 2015, but they germinated only last spring 2017. I was so happy to see that they germinated eventually.
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Ruby Baker received many snowdrops found by Wolfgang Kletzing in Slovakia and Croatia, but, to my knowledge, not in Slovenia. Maybe ´Hugh Mackenzie´was a seedling of these, at least it looks so. Ronald Mackenzie may be able to tell more about it, or one of those who inherited Ruby´s papers after her death.
Snowdrops I prefer are rather superb forms of the typical snowdrop than oddities or monstrosities. Therefore, I started a bit of hybridizing myself, one of my favourite "mothers" is ´Daglingworth´. This one´s "father" was ´Percy Picton´.
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one of my favourite "mothers" is ´Daglngworth´
A wonderful snowdrop Marriette. Well done.
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Avon bulbs 30% off snowdrops 1 week only use code GIG18. Replaced 1lost this year at a good price, happy bunny!
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Ruby Baker received many snowdrops found by Wolfgang Kletzing in Slovakia and Croatia, but, to my knowledge, not in Slovenia. Maybe ´Hugh Mackenzie´was a seedling of these, at least it looks so. Ronald Mackenzie may be able to tell more about it, or one of those who inherited Ruby´s papers after her death.
Snowdrops I prefer are rather superb forms of the typical snowdrop than oddities or monstrosities. Therefore, I started a bit of hybridizing myself, one of my favourite "mothers" is ´Daglingworth´. This one´s "father" was ´Percy Picton´.
Presume HM has ex Kletzing or similar inheritance then.
Daglingworth meets Percy Picton is an excellent match - very much like it and approve of such interesting experimental crossings! Not sure what I'll get out of this year's crosses, was trying to be similarly adventurous but then found a wonderful virescent which needed the flower cutting off for tlc so used it's pollen on as much as I could as an insurance (and just because...)
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I don't know how many of you read the Turkish press?
Here (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/photo-snowdrop-sprouts-in-turkeys-manisa-129092#photo-1) is a link to 16 in habitat Turkish snowdrop pictures.
Chad.
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I don't know how many of you read the Turkish press?
Here (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/photo-snowdrop-sprouts-in-turkeys-manisa-129092#photo-1) is a link to 16 in habitat Turkish snowdrop pictures.
Chad.
Thanks for that link!
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One of the enduring memories of this season will be how much I have come to love the really dark green drops. Andy Byfield has a number of these and they are all stunning.
First Andrea's Fault, which is gorgeous. It is closing in on Morgana which is the top virescent in my view, not only beautiful but also a great garden plant that increases well. My clumps of Andrea's are also increasing and I will see how close it has got to Morgana in terms of increasing when I de-pot in the dormant period.
Whiter Than White is a cracking drop, with the most shining white outers of any drop I have seen. This makes a delightful contrast with the deep green of the inners. Another drop that increases rapidly and is a good do'er in pots and the ground.
Tall Dark & Handsome is a recent introduction. I first saw this when I visited Andy and it went directly onto my target list. The bleeding towards the ovary adds a lovely feature.
Goatee Green Tip, a delicious addition to the green tipped specials! Another variety that is increasing well.
Andy has recently added a staff member to Flete and this should hopefully increase the availability of these wonderful drops.
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Oh my word, you must stop showing pix of Whiter than White - my blood pressure can't take it! What a gorgeous snowdrop. It is the depth of the green that so highlights the pristine nature of the white that does it - just lovely.
Good to hear that Mr Byfield has got some help - I too hope this will work out to benefit his collection.
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Love Andrea’s Fault. A small clump in a pot looked amazing at the AGS Snowdrop day this year.
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I found in a group of late planted native G.elwesii some plants with two flowerstems from one sprout (Foto 1) and some plants, which develope two sproutes from one bulb and every sprout with one flowerstem, so that there also two flowers per bulb (Foto 2 ).
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From one bulb I saw already three flowerstems (foto 3)!
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more fotos of the great variability of G. elwesii. All flowers survives heavy nightfrosts till -18°C and some snowfalls, now the opened their flowers!
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Found these wild nivalis flowering on the roadside today. They were spread about over a distance of about 150 yards, with some clumps over 1 foot in diameter. I noticed no diversity in the markings. There was 1 single clump that was clearly different as it was the only one that had finished flowering. Really nice to see these when most others have gone over. 😁
Sorry I couldn't show more or better photos but i had to really crop them to get them to post.
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Finally getting snow melt and able to see Snowdrops again after nearly a month of snow! this is Gert Geensen's G. nivalis 'Lucas William', a garden favorite here.
Rick
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Also coming out of the melt is G. 'Cedric's Prolific'. So glad to see these little beauties.
Rick
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We must be so grateful that these flowers are so forgiving of the weather. Plenty still doing well here - but we've just been discussing the state of a Crinodendron hookerianum that is looking awful. Can't win them all I suppose :-\
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After strong frosts till -18°C, snow and here in my snowdropgarden most of the snowdrops arised and flowered as bevore!
I found some interesting flowers:
Foto 1: - Polar Baer opens full in warm sunshine
Foto 2: - An open snowdropflower like a White Pagode with white ovarium
Foto 3: - A big flower of an wild G.elwesii
Foto 4: - Yellow ovarium and markers in G. woronowii
Foto 5: - a group of late small G. nivalis with many flowers and yellowish markers. Two flowers of the right side are the common nivalis
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@ Rick: here are only masses of leaves and very few flowers of snowdrops left over - it´s very refreshing to see Yours in pristine condition!
Harald-Alex: that yellow G. woronowii looks very promising, I hope You it will be the same next year!
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Thanks Mariette!
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Finally getting snow melt and able to see Snowdrops again after nearly a month of snow! this is Gert Geensen's G. nivalis 'Lucas William', a garden favorite here.
It became also my favourite when I saw your picture. :)
I'm still waiting for snow to melt over here. :)
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So kind Leena! Thank you, and I hope your snow melts soon. And until then, here is another that was under the cover of snow for nearly a month. G. elwesii 'Plymouth Rock'.
Cheers! Rick
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@ Rick: here are only masses of leaves and very few flowers of snowdrops left over - it´s very refreshing to see Yours in pristine condition!
Harald-Alex: that yellow G. woronowii looks very promising, I hope You it will be the same next year!
Thank You Mariette, I will look for the next year, if the G woronowii will be yellow again. I send You a better foto of this:
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Fingers crossed it´ll look the same next year! :)
@ Rick: Your snowdrops are not just in pristine condition, but very interesting ones, too!
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So kind Leena! Thank you, and I hope your snow melts soon. And until then, here is another that was under the cover of snow for nearly a month. G. elwesii 'Plymouth Rock'.
Cheers! Rick
Rick, in your area, once this batch of snow is gone, can you begin to rely on better weather or will you still be in danger of more snow and frost? It must be great to live somewhere where the seasons are "neater" in their timing!
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It has been a very long snowdrop season here on the coast of Nova Scotia after a rather mildish winter.
A few from yesterday:
nivalis 'Anglesey Abbey'
nivalis 'Blewbury Tart'
'Alison Hillary'
'Magnet' (imposter), IanC when here declared it to be 'Magnet'
plicatus 'Upcher'
johnw
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nivalis 'Viridapice'
'Tubby Merlin'
Lastly the startling 'Rodmarton Regulus'
john
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It has been a very long snowdrop season here on the coast of Nova Scotia after a rather mildish winter.
johnw
The 'drops are looking good, for sure. I suppose in many ways it has been pretty mild here overall - just so changeable that the humans have often felt it a harder season than the plants!
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Maggi
A bit of a shock to return from Oregon, Seattle and Vancouver-Victoria to the chill of the north Atlantic. High Spring at 75F in Eugene. Hopefully the weather here will stay under 10c which will greatly extnd the Galanthus show, last year one warm day ended the brief show rather abruptly.
Pix once organized....
john
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High Spring at 75F in Eugene.
Mercy - we're glad of that in Summer!
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Mercy - we're glad of that in Summer!
I must admit 75F is a few degrees over my high temperature limit.
john
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I must admit 75F is a few degrees over my high temperature limit.
john
That's when I take my first jumper off ;D
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Is this G,n,Scharlockii please.
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Just about finishing flowering now.
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Rick, in your area, once this batch of snow is gone, can you begin to rely on better weather or will you still be in danger of more snow and frost? It must be great to live somewhere where the seasons are "neater" in their timing!
Seasons are rather distinct and do move generally with the calendar. We are slated for another round of snow flurries, but temperatures are rising and I do not think we'll get phased by it now. Alan will be pleased to see his 'Green Light' standing strong after being buried for a month under snow cover.
Happy Easter all! Rick
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Excellent image Rick.
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Discovered this clump with one yellow last week. Any thoughts on affiliation to any other known "yellow" much appreciated. Photos taken today, so "Happy Easter!"
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Happy Easter to you too!
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Discovered this clump with one yellow last week. Any thoughts on affiliation to any other known "yellow" much appreciated. Photos taken today, so "Happy Easter!"
Hallo Cfaitz, happy Easter for You too.
The yellow snowdrop looks promising, it is essential, that the Yellow is next year to see again. Then You can select this bulb and cultivate separat to get more bulbs of it! I found this year a yellow G woronowii and will see next year also, if it flowers stabil yellow again! Greetings Harald Alex
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Happy Easter to All!
Look what Easter egg we found in the woods. :) An orange one! How it is possible for it to be even alive?
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Is this G. n. Scharlockii please.
Just about finishing flowering now.
Your snowdrops are the type known as inverse-poculiform, Eric - and very nice too. I cannot see too well in your photos but it seems that they are lacking the long spathes, or "donkey's ears" that are expected of that form.
Here is a photo from the forum some time ago, from Wolfgang Vorig , which shows the long spathes very well...
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Another question from me would be how unusual would a Scharlockii type inverse poculiform be, if that is indeed what you have? :-\
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Thank you kindly, fair maid!
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Alan will be pleased to see his 'Green Light' standing strong after being buried for a month under snow cover.
Absolutely, Rick. Given that the entirety of this snowdrop derives from a few bulbs found in 2004, it has never had to face such lengthy snow cover in its native habitat. So it's good to confirm that it is a well-behaved example of Galanthus nivalis in its tolerance of snow.
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Another question from me would be how unusual would a Scharlockii type inverse poculiform be, if that is indeed what you have? :-\
Galanthus Scharlockii was named 150 years ago (i.e. in 1868). What we have now results from a mixture of the original clone, mutations and seedlings that have the same basic characteristics. Even so, the gene pool of Scharlockii variants may remain limited. Recently many virescent forms have emerged, although typically with only small flowers. And now we are seeing some beautiful poculiform types. Since the outer petals are green-tipped, the poculiform ones have six long green-tipped petals. An inverse(ly) poculiform variant, if it existed, would have six short green-tipped petals but the shape of the mark and of the petals should be sufficient to tell the two types apart. As far as I know, there are no inversely poculiform Scharlockii types, nor any albinos either. There is an all-white poculiform called 'Charlotte-Jean' that was found by Joe Sharman but this emerged from a population of otherwise normal snowdrops without enlarged spathes (I was there) so although this has the "ears" of a Scharlockii, the genes may be completely different.
Enthusiasm for snowdrops first came about in the Victorian era and poculiform snowdrops were known then. But inversely poculiform types have only been discovered recently, starting with Galanthus plicatus 'Trym', I think. This seems very odd to me.
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So it's good to confirm that it is a well-behaved example of Galanthus nivalis in its tolerance of snow.
Alan, here 'Green Light' is still under snow as most of my snowdrops but I expect to see it coming up in hopefully a week or so, though this year snowdrops are probably at their best here in the end of April.
My plants don't have as green outer tips as Rick's snowdrops do, perhaps it is my soil or the amount (or lack) of sun? Or they haven't been yet mature enough (until hopefully this year). :)
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Alan, here 'Green Light' is still under snow ... My plants don't have as green outer tips as Rick's snowdrops do,
My experience with 'Green Light' is that it produces green tips very reliably indeed but they are often quite small and indeed rarely as big as the those on Rick's plants. Have a look carefully when they emerge this year but if your plants still haven't got green tips then you should demand your money back!
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Alan, there were green tips but not as strong as in Rick's picture. :)
I've been wondering if our climate or my soil has something to do with it ( the darkeness/lightness of green in outer petals in snowdrops), because also the green in outer petals in my 'Rosemary Burnham' is not as strong as for instance in Blonge Inge's pictures, and also green in 'Kildare' is so faint you can hardly see it.
'Green Light' is a good snowdrop here, it has multiplied and flowered well and it will come up in a few days now. :)