Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: JacquelineJ on January 14, 2013, 01:47:44 PM
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... and them the Snowdrops!
What criteria do you use when buying a snowdrop?
The newest rarest, the name, single or double, price, fragrance?
What are your 3 favourite blooms
1st
2nd
3rd
I guess I should start but I don't really have the experience to have a definate opinion.
I do like fragrance, I do like a name e.g. Art Nouveau, that's probably sufficient for me to buy it for a resonable price. I'm edging towards doubles.
At this point I think I'd like
1st Ailwyn, I love the yellow stamens
2nd Flocon de Neige, again for it's stunning interior and for it's name... because I've lived in france so long that it actually does means Snowdrop to me
3rd Trump or South Hayes, I love the outer markings
Your turn :D
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no more than £10 ;) I much prefer the swapping route for acquiring new bulbs.
prefer distinctive singles with a nice drop shape, not really a fan of Trym etc.
not easy to pick 3 but No1 I think will always be...
1 Peardrop
2 Washfield Colesbourne
3 Mighty Atom
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Jacqueline,
Those which grow well are my preferred choices. I think there are few things so miserable as a single snowdrop and few so beautiful as a good spread.
In my garden 'Colossus' is filling this bill at the moment as there is a large clump of them in view as I write. 'Brenda Troyle', 'Atkinsii', 'Lavinia', 'Ophelia', 'Desdemona', 'Magnet', 'S. Arnott' 'Straffan' etc all perform similarly for me and are the ones I enjoy most. These are what would be regarded as "common" snowdrops but they are common because they grow well and that is a good recommendation.
Certainly, I enjoy seeing the new varieties but they are second in enjoyment to those in good numbers.
Hopefully, the attached photograph of 'Colossus' will appear. I have tried time and time again to post photographs recently and have given up now.
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Wow, that's a beautiful clump of Colossus.
Nothing flowering here Paddy. You must be experiencing a mild climate this winter!
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Jacqueline,
We are experiencing a very mild spell so lots of snowdrops up and open. Having said that, the next few days are predicted to be cold ones.
Paddy
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Mmm we've done this sort of thing before Jacqueline, but...
1 Lapwing, I would be so disappointed if I lost this distinctive snowdrop
2 Priscilla Bacon, a stunning snowdrop with local connections for me
3 reginae-olgae Alex Duguid, brightens many a winter day braving the bad weather and looking strong and perky
...but having said those there are at least three more, or four, or....
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Brian,
I have 'Lapwing' for only the last year or two but notice this year that it has increased at an enormous rate and I have a thick clump of flowers emerging at the moment so, as well as being pretty, it looks like it will be a good one to grow in the garden. That's the best kind in my mind.
Now, I'd better get back to doing a little in the garden for an hour or so.
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Aah it is snowing here Paddy, I did an hour or so this morning and I'm still trying to warm up :)
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- G. nivalis 'Green Light' - because I found it - and most people find it grows quite well
- G. elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse' flowers in November with pretty green inner petals
- G. elwesii 'Richard Ayres' - an attractive easy-to-grow double elwesii, named after someone who made some generous donations to the beginnings of my snowdrop collection.
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1st Mrs 'Mrs McNamara'
2nd 'Walrus'
3rd 'Blewbury Tart'
and a 4th 'James Backhouse' because without coming across this plant many years ago i would not be here on this forum
;D
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Only three to name.........Can name a few... ::)....lots more.
I am a fan of snowdrops with large flowers, so think it will be;
1...Pat Mason
2...Washfield Colesbourne
3...Hill Poe
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Given a choice, and we have very few choices for snowdrops here in NZ, I would buy simply because I liked it, not name, rarity or whatever. If it were ridiculously expensive as many snowdrops seem to be, I'd probably buy a dozen or more alpines instead. :)I guess that's the difference between a collector and a gardener.
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Aah it is snowing here Paddy, I did an hour or so this morning and I'm still trying to warm up :)
I spent the day digging compost out of the compost bin and putting in out on beds. I'm knackered. Old age!
Also, half a dozen bags of leafmould onto snowdrop beds - and I found two snowdrops in one bag with shoots about two inches long and very pale.
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Given a choice, and we have very few choices for snowdrops here in NZ, I would buy simply because I liked it, not name, rarity or whatever. If it were ridiculously expensive as many snowdrops seem to be, I'd probably buy a dozen or more alpines instead. :)I guess that's the difference between a collector and a gardener.
Proper attitude: make a garden and collect plants which add to the garden regardless of rarity, fashion etc. Many snowdrops do this remarkably well.
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... and them the Snowdrops!
What criteria do you use when buying a snowdrop?
The newest rarest, the name, single or double, price, fragrance?
What are your 3 favourite blooms
1st
2nd
3rd
I guess I should start but I don't really have the experience to have a definate opinion.
I do like fragrance, I do like a name e.g. Art Nouveau, that's probably sufficient for me to buy it for a resonable price. I'm edging towards doubles.
At this point I think I'd like
1st Ailwyn, I love the yellow stamens
2nd Flocon de Neige, again for it's stunning interior and for it's name... because I've lived in france so long that it actually does means Snowdrop to me
3rd Trump or South Hayes, I love the outer markings
Your turn :D
Jacqueline
Please believe this isn't intended to put you off.
I notice you have listed some of the rare and expensive. Sometimes the rare and expensive ones are the most eager to quickly depart this life for snowdrop heaven. Have you considered a strategy of by all means buying one or two pricey varieties but backed by a few less exotic but hardy and proven good growers (I won't give examples but there are plenty). That way you get rapid bulking-up and a good display from those old-dependables to keep you motivated whilst you get your prayer mat out for those which cost a fortune but have little will to live. Bitter experience! :(
Steve
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Hello Steve,
Thank you for the very sensible advice.
The questionaire is really just away for me to find out what motivates people towards a certain type of drop and also helps to get a feel for the person behind the snowdrop. Apologies to those that have done this all before.
I do know that it won't necessarily be plain sailing and there will be a few failures along the way but hey if you don't give it a try!!!
I do have some of the dependable, not so rare cultivars and also 500 each of G. Nivalis and G. Flore Pleno that I planted last February. All are present and correct, standing to attention and one is actually in flower!! Yay!
I haven't bought any rare expensive one's yet but I do have my prayer mat out because a couple of very generous Gentleman on this list, have sent me drops from my wish list and they arrived today ;D Thank you, for your generosity, you know who you are.
Now to use the prayer matt and hope that I can grow them and not let you down!!
Fingers crossed time will tell.
Thank you to everyone who has sent me advice. Can't get enough of that, along with a little beginners luck ;)
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I agree with Paddy - all the Greatorex doubles, S. Arnott, Atkinsii, Cedric's Prolific etc make beautiful clumps very quickly and make very good reliable garden plants here. Viridapice just romps away and really likes my heavy soil which many others don't.
I was told by a top snowdrop grower last year to find which ones do really well in my garden and spread them around as a backdrop.....then put your 'specials' in front of them to admire up close and personal ;)
My collection is relatively new and I have lost so many special ones. I love Lapwing but my rapidly growing small clump succumbed to stag last year and I lost the bulbs after stripping them down. I replaced it and so far it is not showing - I will give a bulb 3 chances then give up.
So far my favourites from 2012 are:-
1. Jonathan
2. Cider with Rosie
3. Edith with Fanny a close runner up!
and 4. Magnet - as it was the first snowdrop that stopped me in my tracks at Washfield Nursery many years ago growing in a huge clump and just swaying in the breeze.
I am sure my 2013 list will be totally different ;)
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Jennie makes a very good point: She saw a "snowdrop that stopped me in my tracks" and was taken by it. This is a great recommendation of a snowdrop. If you visit a garden with snowdrops and come on such a snowdrop you surely have spotted one which will appeal to you again and again.
Another group which is of great interest to me are snowdrops of Irish origin or connection - so if anybody has a bulb of 'Ruby Baker' simply crying out for a good home, please pass it on.
In the U.K. this might translate as an interest in snowdrops of local origin and this might form a focus for collecting.
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Those which grow well are my preferred choices. I think there are few things so miserable as a single snowdrop and few so beautiful as a good spread.
In my garden 'Colossus' is filling this bill at the moment as there is a large clump of them in view as I write. 'Brenda Troyle', 'Atkinsii', 'Lavinia', 'Ophelia', 'Desdemona', 'Magnet', 'S. Arnott' 'Straffan' etc all perform similarly for me and are the ones I enjoy most. These are what would be regarded as "common" snowdrops but they are common because they grow well and that is a good recommendation.
I don't have very many different snowdrops yet, and this thread has been most helpful for me. :)
It is difficult to choose from all the varieties and it helps to know which ones are 1. the easiest 2. bulk up quickly 3. are different from the others.
Besides common nivalis I have 'Brenda Troyle', 'Magnet', 'St.Arnott', 'Hippolyta' and 'Merlin'(all flowered last year for the first time). 'Straffan' is already in my list as next to purchase. Galanthus plicatus was an eye-opener for me last year because it was so big. Previously I had thought all snowdrops are nivalis size ::).
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In the U.K. this might translate as an interest in snowdrops of local origin and this might form a focus for collecting.
How right you are Paddy :D
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...............and it helps to know which ones are.......................................... are different from the others...................
Ah, now there's the rub! :P ;D
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Paddy I got Ruby Baker last year and have already lost it. I was so upset when I found the carcass in the pot.
I would like to start collecting snowdrops found in Kent but so far only have Hunton Giant. Does anyone know where I could find out more information or even better - plants for sale? Rogers Rough has been on my list since I saw it at Spring Platt but you never ever see it for sale. Does anyone have a list of Kentish varieties?
Thanks
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Hi Jennie
There are quite a few of us in the forum based in Kent.
I would be very interested in local varieties and ones that grow well here also.
I only have about 20 named drops so haven't got that much experience of what works here for me.
nivalis and plicatus both grow OK, but all elwesii types Ive got so far seem to like it here and gro well (sandy and shaded by some trees).
I have 50% grown in containers plunged in sand in cold greenhouse and then out on patio, and 50% planted out.
The planted out do better. strangely being in the greenhouse doesnt seem to make them flower earlier.
Simon