Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: mark smyth on October 10, 2011, 02:16:48 PM
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Has this been announced to the group? Sorry if I missed it.
Well done Steve.
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No idea what you are talking about Mark..... will make a few assumptions..... Steve Owen has been awarded a National Collection Status for his snowies???
If that's the case then congratulaions, Steve. Certainly the Forum provides you a fine platform to share your photos with a wide audience, which may save hoards of folks wanting to trample your garden day in and day out! :-X
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Thanks Mark and Maggie. Not sure what I'm letting myself in for, also acutely aware that there are many galanthophiles (whether contributors to SRGC or not) who know far more about snowdrops than I and have been growing them for far longer. This is really my wife's fault; a few years back she inveigled me into visiting Colesbourne, and at the end of our visit I walked by a table with snowdrops for sale. I saw George Elwes at £20 and said to no-one in particular "Who on earth would pay £20 for a single snowdrop?" Silly Q and an even sillier answer.
I'm planning to do an Open Day in late January or February (a bit of being a NCH that I take seriously) but need to plan around the main 2012 snowdrop events.
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I'm planning to do an Open Day in late January or February (a bit of being a NCH that I take seriously) but need to plan around the main 2012 snowdrop events.
What's your nearest airport?
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I'm sure you'll do fine Steve and get more enjoymenmt from your 'drops as a result of being a NCH.
I understand about the open days being an important part of the whole thing.... can't really see the point in trying to have a NC if you're not willing to do that..... otherwise you would just be another private collector!
Hope it all proves a lot of fun!
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What's your nearest airport?
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Luton, or Birmingham/Coventry.
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Would someone tell me about the significance of a National Collection? I have never found out exactly what the requirements are to be designated a holder of a National Collection or the obligations once so designated. Is it an onerous process? And I assume one must hold a certain percentage of material for the specific genus. Also there seems to be more than one holder for certain genera.
Steve - many of us can blame Colesbourne for fueling the fires. Congrats.
johnw - +23c after a sultry night.
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Well done Steve, is this provisional or full?
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I`m too far, but my congratulations too, Steve. There are a few things from Germany every good collection in GB should have too. ;)
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John
As good a starting point as any is the website http://www.nccpg.com/National-Collections/How-to-Start-a-Collection.aspx. Lots of information there, dealing with the why and how etc. Essentially one aims to act as a resource-holder for a genus (so yes, one needs to grow a significant percentage of the known varieties) and to contribute to the body of knowledege about the genus. If there are other NCHs, I guess it helps if you can offer a differentiated growing situation to that of others; so for example, there's no leafy woodland loam to be found here.
Brian, its a "full" status.
Hagen, thanks for the good wishes and it would be good to contribute to England-Deutschland cultural exchanges. Playing my violin in Wuppertal more than 50 years ago was my last chance to do that!
Steve
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Steve, Wuppertal was only the begin ;)
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Only just seen this,
Well done Steve
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Congratulations Steve, we have seen on this Forum that you have a beautiful and extensive collection with many goodies. Now you have to play the first 'snowdrop'fiddle (violin)! One day ... we hope to come along !
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Good luck, Steve.
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And let's hope the narcissus fly don't get to hear about it ;D
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Well done Steve..it is indeed a high honour.... :)
Warren
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Congratulations and best wishes, Steve.
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Congrats Steve - welcome to the fold.
I'm sure you will get more visitors than I do for the 'here today, gone tomorrow' crocuses ;D
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Congrats Steve - welcome to the fold.
I'm sure you will get more visitors than I do for the 'here today, gone tomorrow' crocuses ;D
Oh there are plenty of 'here today, gone tomorrow' snowdrops.
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Thanks v much guys. Big learning experience coming up especially in Jan/Febuary!
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Congratulations Steve. I'm starting again from scratch with a collection of one species and a couple of pots of seeds. :(
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Congratulations Steve. I'm starting again from scratch with a collection of one species and a couple of pots of seeds. :(
Anthony - Certainly you could easily import delectable pollen from forumists and get to work at developing great NZ snowdrop hybrids. Yes?
johnw
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This is really my wife's fault;
Isn't that typical? Blame the woman. ;D
But congratulations Steve, all the same.
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Congratulations Steve. I'm starting again from scratch with a collection of one species and a couple of pots of seeds. :(
Anthony - Certainly you could easily import delectable pollen from forumists and get to work at developing great NZ snowdrop hybrids. Yes?
johnw
It would be quite a challenge but many northerners would thank you, breeding 'drops to grow well and FLOWER well in Auckland's climate. It can be done with cold climate irises so.....
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Interesting that snowdrops aren't sold at garden centres and the few people there I've asked don't know what I'm talking about! ::) Leucojum aestivum bulbs are sold, as well as the usual tulips, daffs and crocuses.
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Congratulations Steve i hope you do have enough parking space for all the touringcar buses ;D
Anthony we do ship a lot Lillies to New Zealand and Australia, i can put a bag with several cultivars in a box with Lillies no problem.
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Congratulations Steve ;D
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Congratulations Steve i hope you do have enough parking space for all the touringcar buses ;D
Anthony we do ship a lot Lillies to New Zealand and Australia, i can put a bag with several cultivars in a box with Lillies no problem.
That I would like to see.
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I do send you a p.m!
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Congratulations Steve,well done!
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Let us know how you get on Anthony, and of course the cost to get them into the country.
Susan
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Let us know how you get on Anthony, and of course the cost to get them into the country.
Susan
However costly ::), I am sure some would be recouped in future years as nobody seems to have thought of seriously importing them and distributing the new varieties 8)
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Brian, unfortunately if they're new we are not allowed them, otherwise we would have done it. The cost to get one new species approved is around NZ$15,000 I believe.
All very depressing, and one of the reasons we have to grow only from seed that is allowed in.
Susan
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Susan aren't all the major sp(plicatus,nivalis,elwessii) allready in New Zealand its only the cultivars you need,therefore not needing the 15,000 tag price. ;D.I might have got it wrong correct me please if i have.
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The major species and in fact most species (not quite all) are here already so may be imported but only as seed. For bulbs, the exporting source must be approved by our MAF and this is achieved by being inspected while the bulbs are in growth for the presence in the garden/nursery, of pages and pages of assorted pathogens, pests and diseases and declared free of all those. The cost of this alone is enormous - to the exporter. Then the bulbs must be exported while dormant (in effect 6 months after that inspection) and also on arrival here. Galanthus being on the CITES list is not permitted as cultivars even, because our Dept of Conservation chooses to exercise its administration of CITES in an extreme degree, since they don't want non native plants here anyway. Gerard, if you choose to include some Galanthus bulbs with lilies, you could possibly endanger your lily trade as well. It is a big risk to take.
The cost for assessment for import of a new (non-permitted) species, was $1600 last March when I checked with EPA (then ERMA) for an article I had been asked to write. I believe it has now gone up to $1720, both amounts excluding GST.
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The difficulty of getting the authorities to follow the complexities of the lists of names changing with every whim of a passing taxonomist cannot help matters when it comes to arranging imports.
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Zipped round the garden this morning before the rain arrived. Around 400 varieties now showing and of those 35 are in flower - with some of the real earlies now gone over of course. Some contributors have commented they particularly like to grow early flowering drops; some like Barnes and Mrs Mac get mentioned regularly here, but others people might like to consider are Sentinel, Godfrey Owen, Gabriel, X-Files, Zwanenburg, Faringdon Double, Modern Art, Elizabeth Parker-Jervis, North Star and Ian Christie's Yvonne - all reliably early-flowering and vigorous for me.
We will have a formal Open Day but the date will be decided and announced early in January - but if SRGC aficionados want to visit "out of hours" just PM me so we can arrange a date. Even though the main flowering period is yet to come, there are early drops to be seen now. Visitors are invited to make a small voluntary contribution to the Friends of the little 13th Century church across the fields from us. Bring me sunshine.
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Thanks Steve, this is just the sort of information I find invaluable. Given the overwhelming choice of drops it is nice to have some recommendations of those that are thriving in other peoples gardens. And YES I am one of those people who would like to extend the season, particularly at the beginning by growing more early flowered ones. Chris.
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Our first Open Day will be on Saturday 25 February, 11 am - 3.30 pm. SRGC members are welcome to PM me if they would like to visit another date - one or two have already done so. There are snowdrops in flower now.
We are at 127 Stoke Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 2SR. Googling "map: 127 stoke road, linslade, leighton buzzard, beds lu7 2sr" will provide a decent location map.
We won't be providing refreshments (try walking before we run!) but will give suggestions if asked. Again since this is a first time I won't be attempting any plant sales.
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edit: address removed.
Google streetview gives a great photo of the house & garden from April 2009.
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The very best of luck with your first open day, Steve. I hope it all goes wonderfully well, that you enjoy it and I am sure the visitors will.
Paddy
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Steve - good wishes for your Snowdrop opening. We plant to open our garden in Kent for the NGS next February, though have far fewer varieties than you have. We have opened just for our AGS Groups and it is most enjoyable - always good to have hot soup on hand if not too many visitors!
I was interested by the comments from 'down under' on importing snowdrops versus seed. In my garden certain named varieties set seed reliably and come pretty true from seed. A good example is 'Gerard Parker'. Others rarely set seed. This could be a good way of introducing new snowdrops (if it hasn't already been done) even if not identical to the named varieties. Then we will all be importing new varieties back from New Zealand!
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Just a thought, Steve. I do recall that people have expressed caution at the idea of giving your garden location so publicly. While I don't wish to alarm you it is not beyond imagination that there are some people who would be inclined to visit with bad purpose in mind.
I'm sure you could pass your location/direction details to anybody who wished to visit via a private message. You might already have your location marked as part of your profile and SRGC members could access this while the general public could not.
Opening to the public does have its drawbacks; I hope you experience none of them but suggest some basic precautions are worth taking.
Paddy
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Does Chris Sanham have a National Collection too, or am I mistaken?
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David, I believe Chris has decided not to continue in this position. Paddy
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Thanks Paddy.
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Our first Open Day will be on Saturday 25 February, 11 am - 3.30 pm. SRGC members are welcome to PM me if they would like to visit another date - one or two have already done so. There are snowdrops in flower now.
We are at 127 Stoke Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 2SR. Googling "map: 127 stoke road, linslade, leighton buzzard, beds lu7 2sr" will provide a decent location map.
We won't be providing refreshments (try walking before we run!) but will give suggestions if asked. Again since this is a first time I won't be attempting any plant sales.
that date is my one weekend group booking :-[ which I don't normally do, I knew I should have said no, so I'll definitely be in touch later in the month.
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Paddy
Thanks for the words of caution which I take seriously. I'm bound to publish the address for the NCCPG in any case. We do have a decent CCTV system, and the NCCPG encourage us to develop a system of duplicate planting sites. Its all a learning curve. Most visitors will I'm sure simply be snowdrop lovers.
Steve
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Steve,
it's a case of welcoming everybody with open arms while keeping your doors and windows locked - and curtains drawn. There's no point in being foolish. We did open the garden to the public at one time as part of a local garden trail and so have experienced the public around the garden, but now will only open for our local garden clubs; that's enough for us; we know most people coming and it is a different atmosphere, more a get-together than anything else.
Hope you enjoy it all, have every success and go from strength to strength.
Paddy