Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: annew on January 02, 2024, 03:45:09 PM
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Happy New Year to all our friends!
It looks like being an exceptionally early season so far with many snowdrops already in flower, and struggling through last year's debris in the borders because it's been too wet to get out and tidy up.
The hoop petticoat daffs are getting under way under cover as well, so it was possible to pick the pictured posy on Christmas Eve, all the blooms being of different cultivars.
As thoughts turn to the snowdrop season ahead, I thought it advisable to remind our customers that we no longer sell our snowdrops in growth in the spring, but only during the dormant season in our summer list.
I'm happy to say that last year, despite a terrible time with CITES certification, we were able to send a collection of almost all our snowdrop cultivars to our friends at Esker Farm Daffodils in Northern Ireland, who will be offering them from now on, and taking potted plants to shows over there. Watch their website https://www.eskerfarmdaffodils.com (https://www.eskerfarmdaffodils.com) for news coming up!
Meanwhile I am impatiently watching buds on new and developing seedlings and will hopefully be sharing news on some new yellows later in the season.
I hope it is a great growing year for all of you!
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I've spent the last week refurbishing my website, and I hope it is all working correctly now. I would appreciate it if you will let me know if you spot any howlers, or if pages or links are not working correctly. It should work on your devices too.
Hope you enjoy exploring it!
https://www.dryad-home.co.uk (https://www.dryad-home.co.uk)
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NEW on Anne's website is her range of greetings cards featuring her botanical watercolours - when she finds the time to do these I have no idea! Her schedule wears me out just thinking about it, but the Yorkshire perfectionist seems to manage a full 20 hour working day!
Her artwork is just lovely. .... take a look: https://www.dryad-home.co.uk/cards
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Thank you, Maggi! I don't have time for painting now. I should retire. ;D ;D
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I am very busily harvesting and counting bulbs ready to go in my summer list, which should be ready by early July. If you are on my email list, you will get a ‘heads-up’ alert a couple of days beforehand.
Meanwhile, I can let you know about our newly registered snowdrops and daffodils. These will only be available on ebay this year.
Starting with our new snowdrops!
I am very excited to present the first to be registered of our yellow inverse poculiforms (ipocs), after 16 years of targeted breeding work.
DRYAD APOLLO
In Greek and Roman mythology, the multi-talented and beautiful Apollo represents the sun (along with many other things - from prophesy, archery and music to poetry and healing). One of the most important of the Greek gods, he is the son of Zeus and Leto, so it is satisfyingly fitting that this stunning snowdrop is bred from Dryad Leto as mother and Dryad Zeus as father.
These two parents were in turn deliberately bred as a route to yellow inverse poculiforms (ipocs), each having Wendy’s Gold as one of their parents, so both carrying the genes for yellow colouring into the second generation. It is so rewarding when a plan comes to fruition!
DRYAD APOLLO bears its flowers on strong upright stems about 12cm high, over plicate leaves which are short and spreading at flowering time, displaying the flowers beautifully. The flowers are almost perfectly conical, dangling neatly from a softly curved spathe. The short pedicel and cylindrical ovary share the same golden colour as the double mark on the outer segments, which consists of a large oval in the distal half, notched at the apex, and a softer shading just above the base. This double mark is repeated on the inner segments, but here the two parts are of equal strength and almost joined with just a paler band between them.
This dazzling snowdrop will be impossible to ignore in the garden, and promises to be the pride of any collection.
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DRYAD SUNRISE is a distinctive and eye-catching snowdrop to bring movement and light to the spring garden.
The first seedling to be registered from our breeding programme for the green ovary/ yellow mark characteristic, DRYAD SUNRISE was named for the inner segment mark, deep and dark over the sinus, becoming glowing yellow above.
Flowering at 15 cm high under glass, DRYAD SUNRISE has large shapely flowers held on a long pedicel which hangs free of the curved spathe, allowing the flowers to swing with the breeze. The leaves are neat and narrow, semi-upright and short at flowering time, presenting the flowers well.
The tip of the pedicel is yellow where it joins the pea-green ovary. The long outer segments are cupped, ridged and of heavy substance, with a long claw that reveals the markings on the inners. These are washed pale yellow apart from the crisp white margin. At the apex, there is an inverted V, deep olive over the narrow sinus, grading into glowing golden yellow, shading gently towards the base where there are two more diffuse yellow patches. The underside of the inner segments is strong yellow, which adds to the overall glow when lit from behind. The golden colour deepens as the flowers mature.
Bred from South Hayes x Blonde Inge, it is worth noting that it carries genes for both ipoc and yellow characteristics, so may produce some surprising seedlings!
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DRYAD ROMULUS and DRYAD REMUS
Important twins in Roman mythology, their mother was the daughter of former king Numitor, who had been usurped by his brother Amulius. In a twist reminiscent of the tale of Moses, the new king considered them a possible threat and so they were abandoned into the river Tiber, from where they were rescued and raised in secret, famously being suckled by a she-wolf.
To cut a long story short, the terrible twins eventually reinstated their grandfather as king, and went on to found the city of Rome, unfortunately disagreeing so much upon which of the seven hills to build it that Romulus killed his twin in order to get his own way. Kids eh?
This Roman pair were chosen as a nod to the alternative term for ipocs – pterugiform – which refers to the segmented ‘skirt’ worn by Roman legionaries. A true pterugiform/ipoc has all inner and outer segments the same length, and identical in markings i.e. they have in effect six inner segments and no outers. These forms typically have fairly short segments for that reason, appearing at first sight to be double flowers.
DRYAD ROMULUS and DRYAD REMUS are true ipocs, both having this qualifying feature, differing only in the marks on the segments:
In DRYAD ROMULUS, the mark is a deep emerald green oval at the base of the segment, fading to white just before the junction with the ovary, joined to an inverted V over the distinct sinus by a narrow ‘waist’. This mark is repeated on the inner segments.
In DRYAD REMUS, the mark is a similarly bold emerald green, but a broad, parallel-sided stripe, also fading to white just before the junction with the ovary, and with a distinct sinus at the apex. This mark is repeated on the inner segments.
Both flower at about 20cm high under glass, probably shorter outside, with almost erect leaves.
True ipocs are very rare in cultivation, so this pair will be a remarkable and characteristic addition to any collection.
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The last of our new snowdrops is DRYAD MINUET.
DRYAD MINUET is the third of our green seedlings to be named, this one bred from Greenkeeper x Angelina. Flowering at only 10cm high, above gently arching, narrow leaves, the upright stems bear relatively large flowers of heavy substance, the outers deeply cupped and shouldered, and with a strong band of bright apple green hatching across the apical half of the segment. The inner segments have a deep green W over the deep sinus. The flowers are held at the tip of the spathe, giving MINUET an attractive and characteristic posture. This striking little gem will be difficult to miss in your collection, and is small enough for troughs, rock gardens and containers, although equally at home in the open garden.
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Our newly registered miniature daffodils for this year include two seedlings from our triandrus hybrids breeding programme, three classically all-yellow, though distinctively shaped, trumpets, a rare N. albimarginatus hybrid, and a tiny star!
IAN YOUNG 12 W-W
I'm delighted that Ian Young, the Bulb Logger, Bulb Despot and all-round bulb super-hero, has consented to having one of my daffs named after him. I thought he would choose this beauty, knowing his fondness for x susannae types. Tall, slim and with one or two gleaming white bell-shaped flowers per 25cm stem, it makes a beautiful pot subject but should also do well outside.
DUCKLING 6 Y-Y miniature
This is such a cheeky looking flower, rather like a slightly larger version of our favourite Minionette.
Reflexed enough to class as division 6, the perianth gently arches away from the conical, flared corona. Bound to make you smile!
ALBIA 12 Y-Y/W
This is so far the only one of our N. albimarginatus hybrids with a white rim to the corona.
From N. rupicola subsp. watieri x N. albimarginatus, it retains the beautiful perfume characteristic of its father. The lemon-yellow perianth is reflexed, and the broadly conical corona of the same lemon but with a broad band of white at the rim. Increases well.
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MAGGI YOUNG 1 Y-Y miniature
Named for another mainstay of the SRGC – the tireless and perennially cheerful Maggi, this little daffodil is a ray of sunshine. The brilliant yellow corona is flamboyantly frilled, and the overlapping perianth is very gently reflexed. At 15cm high, it is in perfect proportion and every inch (!) a classic.
STARINA 7 W-W miniature
From Crème Fraîche Group × Keira sdlg KB-M-1-2007, this is a pristine white little star only 28mm in diameter. The flat corona is deeply and neatly six-lobed. I have found this is easier to grow than its grandparent, N. watieri.
FOLLETTA 6 Y-Y miniature
Folletta is ‘pixie’ in Italian, and is a fitting name for this little daffodil, with a reflexed and pointed perianth like a pixie hat. On first opening the back of the perianth is bright emerald green, and still distinctly shaded green at maturity. The corona is gently frilled at the mouth. Flowering at about 15-18cm under glass, it will make a beautiful potful for alpine shows, but also has good show form for cutting.
IVORY BELLE 12 W-W
Sister to Ivory Ripple, this seedling from N. triandrus x N. cantabricus petunioides, has wide-open creamy flowers, with similar corrugations on the corona, but flowering on shorter stems than Ivory Ripple. The corona is conical and not flared at the mouth, and the narrow foliage is more prostrate.
Ivory Ripple makes a superb pot subject, ideal for alpine exhibitors. It also has a delightful scent!
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Just a reminder that our EBAY listings begin tonight. I will give more details later this evening, once they are live. There will be 5 batches, each available for 3 days.
Meanwhile, I am beginning to pick and pack orders from our main list, so make sure to let me know if you want me to hold off posting if you want to bid and combine postage.
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Our first listings are now live:
Galanthus - Dryad Minuet, Dryad Arugus, Dryad Bellerophon
Narcissus - Duckling, Folletta, Ian Young, Little Goldheart, Mica, Starina and Trumpet Voluntary.
You will find them here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)
Good luck!
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Our first EBAY listings for 2024 finish tonight!
First time offered – DRYAD MINUET is the latest from our green stable, a cute little character with a bold green blaze across the outers and distinctive poise.
Minuet is accompanied by the only bulbs we have this year of two of our Myths and Legends introduced last year – DRYAD ARGUS with the two eye-spots on each outer segment, and the fly-away DRYAD BELLEROPHON with its flaring outers. These are always going to be in short supply, so don’t miss the chance to add these to your collection.
We have no less than four of our new introductions for 2024 among the daffodils:
ALBIA is unique in her parentage of N. albimarginatus x N. watieri, and so far the only one of our seedlings with the hoped-for white rim to the corona. Since N. albimarginatus itself is unlikely to be available anywhere in the near future, its daughters at least give you the opportunity to experience the wonderful scent of this fabulous species.
DUCKLING is a very sweet little golden-yellow daffodil, with such an innocent and happy expression, that if it were a child you would wonder what it had been up to! A real little character.
IAN YOUNG is a classy x susannae-type from our triandrus breeding programme, with one to two crystal white bell-shaped flowers, and will be a beautiful pot subject, especially for alpine exhibitors.
STARINA is the last of our new introductions, a gleaming little star-shaped flower with six neat lobes to the corona.
These newcomers are supported by three of our customer favourites – LITTLE GOLDHEART with its intriguing golden inner cup, and the ravishing MICA, a rare and beautiful 2 W-W perfect for exhibition.
Finally, the singularly flamboyant flower of TRUMPET VOLUNTARY can’t fail to elicit comment when in flower.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)
Good luck!
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Starting tonight on EBAY:
I am very excited to present the first to be registered of our yellow inverse poculiforms (ipocs), after 16 years of targeted breeding work.
DRYAD APOLLO
In Greek and Roman mythology, the multi-talented and beautiful Apollo represents the sun (along with many other things - from prophesy, archery and music to poetry and healing). One of the most important of the Greek gods, he is the son of Zeus and Leto, so it is satisfyingly fitting that this stunning snowdrop is bred from Dryad Leto as mother and Dryad Zeus as father.
These two parents were in turn deliberately bred as a route to yellow inverse poculiforms (ipocs), each having Wendy’s Gold as one of their parents, so both carrying the genes for yellow colouring into the second generation. It is so rewarding when a plan comes to fruition!
DRYAD APOLLO bears its flowers on strong upright stems about 12cm high, over plicate leaves which are short and spreading at flowering time, displaying the flowers beautifully. The flowers are almost perfectly conical, dangling neatly from a softly curved spathe. The short pedicel and cylindrical ovary share the same golden colour as the double mark on the outer segments, which consists of a large oval in the distal half, notched at the apex, and a softer shading just above the base. This double mark is repeated on the inner segments, but here the two parts are of equal strength and almost joined with just a paler band between them.
This dazzling snowdrop will be impossible to ignore in the garden, and promises to be the pride of any collection.
DRYAD REMUS
Remus, and his brother Romulus were very important twins in Roman mythology, and so they were chosen as a nod to the alternative term for ipocs – pterugiform – which refers to the segmented ‘skirt’ worn by Roman legionaries. A true pterugiform/ipoc has all inner and outer segments the same length, and identical in markings i.e. they have in effect six inner segments and no outers. These forms typically have fairly short segments for that reason, appearing at first sight to be double flowers.
DRYAD ROMULUS and DRYAD REMUS are true ipocs, both having this qualifying feature, differing only in the marks on the segments:
DRYAD ROMULUS, will not be offered this year, but I’m delighted to be able to offer DRYAD REMUS for the first time.
In DRYAD REMUS, the mark is a bold emerald green, broad, parallel-sided stripe, fading to white just before the junction with the ovary, and with a distinct sinus at the apex. This mark is repeated on the inner segments. It flowers at about 20cm high under glass, probably shorter outside, with almost erect leaves.
True ipocs are very rare in cultivation, so this will be a remarkable and characteristic addition to any collection.
Our trio of snowdrops this session is completed by the second bulb of another of our new introductions – DRYAD MINUET, a neat little snowdrop with a bold splash of green across its outer segments.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
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Our daffodils starting tonight on EBAY include three of our new cultivars for 2024.
FOLLETTA is ‘pixie’ in Italian, and is a fitting name for this little daffodil, with a reflexed and pointed perianth like a pixie hat. On first opening the back of the perianth is bright emerald green, and still distinctly shaded green at maturity. The corona is gently frilled at the mouth. Flowering at about 15-18cm under glass, it will make a beautiful potful for alpine shows, but also has good show form for cutting.
IVORY BELLE
Sister to Ivory Ripple, this seedling from N. triandrus x N. cantabricus petunioides, has wide-open creamy flowers, with similar corrugations on the corona, but flowering on shorter stems than Ivory Ripple. The corona is conical and not flared at the mouth, and the narrow foliage is more prostrate.
Ivory Ripple makes a superb pot subject, ideal for alpine exhibitors. It also has a delightful scent!
MAGGI YOUNG
Named for a much admired mainstay of the SRGC – the tireless and perennially cheerful Maggi, this little daffodil is a ray of sunshine. The brilliant yellow corona is flamboyantly frilled, and the overlapping perianth is very gently reflexed. At 15cm high, it is in perfect proportion and every inch a classic.
These three are supported by two of our nursery favourites, and a very rarely offered Brian Duncan cyclamineus hybrid.
ÉPONINE is a flamboyant miniature cyclamineus hybrid with the white perianth swept back from the long lemon yellow corona. Part of the winning Alec Gray Trophy group at a Royal Horticultural Society show in 2016. Only one to offer.
SWIFTLET is a tiny division 6 daffodil. Flowering at only 7cm/3” high, the perfectly proportioned little flowers are a glistening pale lemon, maturing to white, with a fully reflexed perianth and long, slightly flared corona. The leaves are a rich deep green and display the flowers beautifully. A favourite here at the nursery, and stunning on the show bench, as seen in the photo, pictured at RHS Hyde Hall this spring.
Our final daff for tonight is PEACH TWIST, an eye-catching trumpet variety, 12cm high with white spiralling perianth and frilly trumpet that matures to a pale peach. Often commented on by visitors, it was awarded the Ralph B. White Memorial Medal in 2024 by the RHS.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)
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Our EBAY listings finishing tonight include the first to be offered of our stunning new yellow ipoc, DRYAD APOLLO. It has taken me many years work to get to this stage, and I’m excited that it will finally be added to a lucky bidder’s collection.
The second newcomer in the snowdrops is out true inverse poculiform DRYAD REMUS, with its six equal segments each with a bright green vertical stripe.
Completing the snowdrop trio is the second bulb of DRYAD MINUET, our compact little green with the perky attitude.
Our daffodils include no less than three newly registered miniatures:
FOLLETTA with her pixie-cap perianth and green reverse
IVORY BELLE with its widely-flaring fluted corona, perfect for alpine exhibitors
and MAGGI YOUNG, a personal favourite (the bulb and the lady) with its classic poise, frilled trumpet and gently reflexed perianth.
To keep these company is a rarely offered cyclamineus hybrid from Brian Duncan. His ÉPONINE has a swept-back white perianth and subtly shaded, long primrose corona.
Two of our visitor favourites complete the ensemble.
Our award-winning PEACH TWIST has a symmetrically twisted white perianth surrounding its peachy corona.
SWIFTLET is our tiniest cyclamineus hybrid only 7 cm high with palest lemon glistening flowers in perfect proportion. A real talking point on the show bench.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)
GOOD LUCK!
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Starting tonight on EBAY:
We are delighted to introduce the first seedling to be registered from our breeding programme for the green ovary/ yellow mark characteristic. DRYAD SUNRISE was named for the inner segment mark, deep and dark over the sinus, becoming glowing yellow above.
Flowering at 15 cm high under glass, DRYAD SUNRISE has large shapely flowers held on a long pedicel which hangs free of the curved spathe, allowing the flowers to swing with the breeze. The leaves are neat and narrow, semi-upright and short at flowering time, presenting the flowers well.
The tip of the pedicel is yellow where it joins the pea-green ovary. The long outer segments are cupped, ridged and of heavy substance, with a long claw that reveals the markings on the inners. These are washed pale yellow apart from the crisp white margin. At the apex, there is an inverted V, deep olive over the narrow sinus, grading into glowing golden yellow, shading gently towards the base where there are two more diffuse yellow patches. The underside of the inner segments is strong yellow, which adds to the overall glow when lit from behind. The golden colour deepens as the flowers mature.
Bred from South Hayes x Blonde Inge, it is worth noting that it carries genes for both ipoc and yellow characteristics, so may produce some surprising seedlings!
Our second bulb of our new true inverse poculiform, DRYAD REMUS, shares tonight’s snowdrop billing.
For our daffodils, six of our best are assembled for you tonight. Four of the new introductions for this year make their second showing:
Perfumed ALBIA with her unique ancestry and lemon reflexed flowers with the signature white-rimmed corona.
Elegant, snowy white IAN YOUNG with its fluted, nodding bells.
Cheeky golden yellow DUCKLING and
Sparkling STARINA with her signature six-lobed corona.
They are supported by two of our best exhibition miniatures, LITTLE GOLDHEART with the lining of golden yellow to its creamy cup, and serene MICA, a rare white division 2 with excellent show form.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)
GOOD LUCK!
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Finishing on EBAY tonight, the first offering of our new yellow, the distinctive and eye-catching DRYAD SUNRISE. The large, pendulous flowers will catch any early sun and breeze to bring movement and light to the spring garden.
She is attended by the second bulb of the true inverse poculiform DRYAD REMUS, with its neatly regular, striped segments.
The narcissi encompass six distinct forms ideal for exhibition. The crystalline white of the miniature starry STARINA, less than 3cm across on short stems for perfect balance, and the beautifully poised, multi-flowered IAN YOUNG, elegant and slightly taller. Snowy MICA has excellent show form, and has already won many prizes.
Two of the featured daffodils sport pale lemon colouring with a surprise in the corona – ALBIA’s white rim and perfume from her unique N. albimarginatus parentage, and the deep yellow lining of LITTLE GOLDHEART.
For a more classic colouring, jaunty DUCKLING is a cheeky charmer to complete the assembly.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)
GOOD LUCK!
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Starting tonight on EBAY – our penultimate listings for 2024.
The star of the show is the second bulb of our stunning new yellow ipoc, DRYAD APOLLO.
DRYAD APOLLO’s flowers are a perfect cone, each segment with a delicately upturned rim. The deep yellow apical mark reaches halfway to the base, where it is echoed by another misting of yellow. On a level with this ethereal mark, the long claw reveals the deep yellow of the inner segment mark, covering almost the whole of the segment. The show is completed by the cylindrical ovary and pedicel in a matching hue. At 15cm high, the upright stems hold the flowers well above the short, broad leaves.
Our second and FINAL bulb of DRYAD SUNRISE completes the snowdrops offered tonight, her large flowers swinging on long pedicels, tinted gold where they meet the apple-green ovary. The inner segments display a gradient from olive at the sinus, through bright gold, which diffuses to pale yellow towards the base. The under surface is almost wholly yellow, which shines through the segment when backlit.
Our daffodils in this listing include the LAST to be offered this year of three of our new introductions:
Creamy IVORY BELLE makes a fantastic display in a container for exhibition, especially at alpine shows, the wide, outward-facing, fluted bells backed by a starry perianth.
MAGGI YOUNG with her classic good looks, gently reflexed perianth and long, frilled corona is in perfect proportion to her upright stems and leaves in a complementary rich, dark green.
Similar in colour, but quite different in personality, FOLLETTA’s swept back, pointed perianth is backed with flashes of bright green.
Also making its final appearance this session is our award-winning division 1, PEACH TWIST, with its symmetrically spiralling white perianth, and flamboyant frilled corona, opening soft yellow, and maturing to an alluring peach.
Finally, our favourite tiny cyclamineus hybrid, SWIFTLET charms everyone with its petite flowers only 3cm from the end of the corona to the tip of its completely reflexed perianth. Opening glistening pale lemon, it matures to all white. A great talking point for exhibition and very popular with showgoers, especially children.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)
GOOD LUCK!
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Finishing on EBAY tonight:
Top billing goes to the second bulb of DRYAD APOLLO, our entrancing new yellow ipoc, supported by the LAST bulb of DRYAD SUNRISE, in their own way each promising a golden display next spring.
In the daffodils, tonight is your last chance to add some of our new introductions to your collection – perfumed ALBIA, serene IVORY BELLE, classic golden MAGGI YOUNG and pixy-hatted FOLLETTA all making their farewell performance.
In a guest appearance, the final PEACH TWIST and tiny, streamlined SWIFTLET complete the cast.
Only one more batch of listings to go!
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
GOOD LUCK!
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Starting tonight on EBAY – our FINAL listings for 2024.
DRYAD APOLLO, sixteen years in the making, is again the star of the show. I’m not sure whether any will be available next year, as I need to increase my stock again, so this might be the last chance to add this rare beauty to your collection for a while.
Two of our other new snowdrops are also taking their final bow - DRYAD MINUET, the neat little green with the horizontal blaze of emerald, and the perky attitude, and DRYAD REMUS, the rare true inverse poculiform, each segment with a green stripe down the centre.
Three of our new miniatures head up the daffodil section, cheeky DUCKLING with its golden flared trumpet and gently reflexed perianth, contrasts with the sharper, sleeker and more swept back FOLLETTA.
Twinkling STARINA, in snowy white and less than 3cm across, centred with the starry, six-lobed corona completes the new trio.
Apparently zooming in at the last minute, the completely reflexed perianth of SWIFTLET is enhanced by its glistening, pale lemon colour, maturing to all white.
As usual, you can find the listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
GOOD LUCK!
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Our final listings for 2024 finish tonight – so this is your last chance to add our exclusive snowdrops and daffodils to your collections.
In the season finale, DRYAD APOLLO, DRYAD MINUET and DRYAD REMUS share the snowdrop billing, while the daffodil ensemble sports golden DUCKLING and FOLLETTA, sparkling white STARINA and the baby of the bunch, SWIFTLET.
Meanwhile, our overseas orders will be on their way next week, and my house can stop being a packing shed, and become a sorting shed for The Grand Repotting. I can finally take off my dispatch / IT / social media department hats and stick to just my comfortable potting one.
My thanks to all our customers and bidders for your orders, and your support. I hope you have a wonderful spring in 2025.
You can find the final listings here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/dryadzny/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
GOOD LUCK!
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Our new autumn snowdrop seedling AW 4819 caused a bit of a stir at the recent AGS show at RHS Harlow Carr, and along with some very nice silverware, was given an Award of Merit by the Joint Rock Garden Committee. When this happens, it is required to give the plant a name, so I would consequently like to introduce DRYAD REGINA.
This queen among snowdrops was named in homage to her parent species, G. reginae-olgae, but also as a nod to our other Autumn Aristocrats group, to which she is related through a common mother species, and yet with a slightly different heritage – the other Aristocrats have G. peshmenii as pollen parent.
DRYAD REGINA is a seedling from G. reginae-olgae ‘Blanc de Chine’, a much sought-after albino variety of the familiar autumn-flowering species from Greece. Dryad Regina’s shapely flowers are not completely white, retaining two faint green spots at the apex of the inner segments, and a green wash on the underside. The two varieties converge, however, when you bear in mind that ‘Blanc de Chine’ occasionally shows green on the inners, and Dryad Regina’s flowers mature to almost completely white (if not pollinated – that makes the flowers go over too quickly to show the change).
The outer segments of Dryad Regina are fuller and more rounded than Blanc de Chine, giving the flower more impact. It also seems to be more vigorous, Blanc de Chine being known for its miffiness and slow increase. Both cultivars flower before the leaves emerge.
G. reginae-olgae DRYAD REGINA description:
Ex G. reginae-olgae ‘Blanc de Chine’, sown 2017. Flowering in October at 140mm high, before the leaves emerge. The spathe is curved, and slightly shorter than the pedicel, while the ovary is egg-shaped. The outer segments are 27mm long, and 17mm wide (when flattened) and rounded, with a 6mm long ‘claw’. The inner segments are 12mm long by 10mm wide and bear two faint green spots at the apex, fading as the flower matures. The underside of the inners shows pale green shading between the veins. The flowers are scented with a fresh grassy or citrus-like perfume.