Galanthus 'Kedworth'

[Paddy Tobin]

This snowdrop is listed in the recently published "A Gardener's Guide to Snowdrops" by Freda Cox where she describes it, without illustration, "Vigorous. Large, slim, elegant flowers. Outer segments marked green to around half of segment. Inner segment heavy green mark at apex diffusing across segment. Often two scapes. David and Ruby Baker, Ireland, 1995"

The Irish connection interested me. I see it listed in http://www.zauber-pflanzen.de/galanthus_sorten_hybriden_k_z.html where 'Kenworth' is listed as a synonym and in http://www.fieldofblooms.ie/product-list/ but did no come across it anywhere else.

It was not listed in Gunter Waldorf's nor Hanneke van Dijk's books, nor in Snowdrops.

Any thoughts?


Another one listed is G. 'Betty Fraser' ..."Distinctive Irish snowdrop.....Betty Fraser's garden". I can find no reference to it anywhere else.

[Maggi Young]

I haven't heard from forumist "Geebo"  (Guy de Schrijver of Field of Blooms nursery) for ages, Paddy, but I'm sure he'd be  happy to share any info he has ..... you could send him and Maureen my good wishes at the same time!
guy2002@eircom.net

[Paddy Tobin]

I'll pass on your good wishes, Maggi, and have asked Guy  about this but no reply as of yet. Paddy

[mark smyth]

Betty Fraser is a fabulous chunky elwesii. On a warm day the outers don't open from the claw base but from where the claw 'joins' the outer.

[Paddy Tobin]

Thank you, Mark. Can you tell who Betty Fraser is, where she lives etc - not that I intend calling, purely for information.

[Hagen Engelmann]

Paddy, the description (fieldsofbloom) of KEDWORTH sounds  like the description of KILDARE.

[Paddy Tobin]

Certainly, Hagen, the phrase "found while lost in Ireland" is always trotted out when 'Kildare' is mentioned. It seems that Mr. and Mrs. Baker might have been lost for longer than originally thought.

[mark smyth]

My photo was taken in 2009. I cant remember where

[Paddy Tobin]

Many thanks again, Mark. Have you any idea who Betty Fraser was or where she was from?

[Matt Bishop]

Hello Paddy,

Suffice to say that I know nothing of 'Kedworth'. Neither does Ruby Baker. Best I stop there.

Regards,

Matt

[Paddy Tobin]

Thank you for your comments, Matt. As I approach the end of this book I find my eyebrows have been raised a great many times.

[emma T]

Glad I haven't bought that particular book

[Carolyn Walker]

Thank you for your comments, Matt. As I approach the end of this book I find my eyebrows have been raised a great many times.

I was thinking of buying the book after it was recommended elsewhere on the forum.  It is quite expensive though and I would love to hear some members assessments of it, both good and bad.

[Paddy Tobin]

Carolyn, I would comment that there are many inaccuracies in the comments on the snowdrops described there. A disappointment.

[Carolyn Walker]

Carolyn, I would comment that there are many inaccuracies in the comments on the snowdrops described there. A disappointment.

Thanks, Paddy.  It is so tempting to buy any new snowdrop book to feed the addiction.  I was contacted by a woman from the UK who is researching (I  always like when they do that before they write) a book on the history of individual snowdrops, who discovered them, where, etc.  She sounded very thorough, and I look forward to the book because I love that there is so much known history about snowdrops.  She said it may be done in three years.