Who are they/what are they?

[Brian Ellis]

The description does say 2 litre Mark.

[Maggi Young]

From the ebay description:
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Galanthus-elwesii-Richard-Handscombe-extremely-rare-collectors-snowdrop-/171247348310

   Nice to see another ebay seller with an impeccable provenance for his 'drops 

[Alan_b]

we were very pleased to acquire it as it was found up the road from here!

Hard to imagine how you could have missed finding it yourself, Brian; giant thing that it is.

[David King]

Hard to imagine how you could have missed finding it yourself, Brian; giant thing that it is.

Probably because he wasn't looking for it and Rob had already found it eighteen years ago!

[Alan_b]

Eighteen years ago, eh?  That seems like a long time but then 'The Book' was published 13 years ago now.  I think the information recorded for every snowdrop should include the year it was discovered and whether it was then a single bulb or a group (assuming this has not been forgotten).  In the case of a deliberate breeding programme I guess the year of discovery would be the year of first flowering.

David, my comment was only prompted by the thought that such a large snowdrop in a public place, as I presumed it was, would seemingly be hard to miss.  But perhaps they all grow large in that locale and the selection was made based on being only a bit taller or a bit more nicely-marked than the others?     

[Mavers]

Does anyone have any of their own pictures of galanthus Richard Handscombe?

It looks impressive in the ebay 'coke bottle' photo.

£156 seems excessive though.

[Brian Ellis]

£156 seems excessive though.

Well that was eBay prices!  Sorry I didn't take one I don't think, will have to check later.

[Brian Ellis]

Sorry Mike, I didn't take a photo, I must have decided that it wasn't mature enough to show it's grandeur

[David King]

Does anyone have any of their own pictures of galanthus Richard Handscombe?

As Brian says neither of us have a picture of the one in the garden but I did take the one below at Carole Smith's in February 2012.  It is not at its best as it was starting to go over and because it is a close up doesn't really show you the size.  Perhaps next year.

[carolesmith]

Right, synchronise tape measures - for what it is worth - in my garden TODAY:

                                      Petal                 Leaf - width               Length
Richard Handscombe       1 3/4 ins          1 1/4 ins                    12 ins
E A Bowles                      1 1/2 ins          1 3/8 ins                    6 1/4 ins
The Whopper                   1 1/2 ins          1 1/8 ins                    12 1/2 ins
George Elwes                   1 3/8 ins          1 in                            15 ins

Please don't ask for a photo - as David will witness my brain aches from trying and I am truly impressed with just how clever he is!
 

[mark smyth]

new money please Carole. I couldn't tell you what 3/8th is 

[mark smyth]

                                      Petal                            Leaf - width                 Length
Richard Handscombe      1 3/4"/ 44.45mm          1 1/4" / 31.75mm          12" / 30.48cm
E A Bowles                     1 1/2" / 38.1mm           1 3/8" / 34.9mm           6 1/4" / 15.87cm
The Whopper                  1 1/2" / 38.1mm           1 1/8 ins                      12 1/2" / 31.75cm
George Elwes                  1 3/8" / 34.9mm          1" / 25.4mm                 15" / 38.1cm

[Tim Harberd]

Thanks Carole
That's very informative... It makes RH the largest flower so far mentioned on this forum.

Can anyone get a measure on Fieldgate Superb, which I've seen listed as being late and having petals over 40mm

Tim DH