Galanthus January 2016

[annew]

Another good day here with good light so took the camera into the garden.

1.  Galanthus 'Dryad Gold Sovereign'
2.  Galanthus 'Fatty Arbuckle'
3.  Galanthus 'Louise Ann Bromley
4.  Galanthus 'Margaret Owen'
5.  Galanthus 'Fieldgate Superb'

The Sovereign looks in need of some decent sun, David!

[David King]

The Sovereign looks in need of some decent sun, David!

You can say that again Anne!  We are all in need of some sunshine.  Every time the rain stops we rush out to clear more mess or take some quick photos!

[Maggi Young]

You can say that again Anne!  We are all in need of some sunshine.  Every time the rain stops we rush out to clear more mess or take some quick photos!

 Rain never stops long enough for us to attempt that!  There was a blink of sun today but very wet  and slushy ( last night we got some snow - for a change......)

[johnstephen29]

It's been that mild and wet for so long Maggi, this morning was cold and frosty. It came as a bit of a shock, even though it was forecasted.

[annew]

Yesterday afternoon we had 4 hours of sunshine! I cleared the rubbish off three of the beds with snowdrops in and felt SOOO much better. 

[Maggi Young]

Yesterday afternoon we had 4 hours of sunshine! I cleared the rubbish off three of the beds with snowdrops in and felt SOOO much better. 

 Are you sure a neighbour didn't just have an arc light on, Anne? 

We had some sunshine then  but  underfoot is horrible - sodden and slushy - and now, icy. Thank goodness the galanthus - and other bulbs outside, are keeping their heads down. Sensible little souls.

[annew]

I wore a flat cap in case of radiation poisoning.

[Maggi Young]

I wore a flat cap in case of radiation poisoning.

Smart cookie!

[uvularia]

Of course Belgians are special  .  Thanks for the link.  Any green-tipped Fly Fishing sighted in the UK?  Maybe it's weather/climate related.  Checked the 15 day forecast for Brussels---boy do you get a lot of rainy days.  Our winter lows are much lower and summer highs much higher.  I don't think the climates are similar.

My Fly Fishing has fine green tips this year. But nothing like yours Carolyn!

[kentish_lass]

Hello All - due to non stop rain and now flu I have nothing to post right now!  I worked so hard this year moving bulbs from my woodland area where I lost a few 'specials' to swift moth larvae.  I cleaned them up, potted them into lattice pots and plunged them in sand in cold frames.  The last time I looked they looked absolutely soaked where the sand has drawn up water and several had stag.....they were removed.  I am dreading what I might find when/if the rain ever stops - but I am sure I am not the only one!

Ironically, not one lattice pot from the woodland area had a larvae in but I guess that was just luck.

[Alan_b]

If the lattice pot is buried so the top is flush with the soil surface then a swift moth larva of the type I find might well be too fat to get through the holes in the pot.  This may depend on your choice of lattice pot but I use ones with small holes.  So if the larva is originally outside the lattice pot it would have to emerge above the soil to get in, making it vulnerable to predators.  I have always hoped this might act as a deterrent.     

[Brian Ellis]

I quite agree Alan, the grubs would be too fat to get through the holes.  The problem as I see it is that the female lays her eggs in flight so that should they fall within the surface of the lattice pot they would hatch, burrow down and feed themselves silly on our bulbs.  I have never seen lattice pots as a cure all for this, rather they prevent moles etc having access and also mean that the whole contents of the basket can fairly reliably be known to contain the same variety of bulbs.  Jenny (hope you're better soon) you don't say how cultivated your woodland area is, reading on Wiki and other sites it seems the larvae have a great fondness for docks which, if they are present, would be encouraging them!  I think you deserve a medal for persevering year after year against all the problems you have had and hereby bestow on you the OMG (Order of Merit Galanthus)

[Alan_b]

Jenny ... I think you deserve a medal for persevering year after year against all the problems you have had and hereby bestow on you the OMG (Order of Merit Galanthus)

Hear hear.

[Maggi Young]

Jennie -so sorry to hear you are  poorly - get well soon - and hope your 'drops are in better fettle than you fear.  xx

[Melvyn Jope]

Found a four petal.G.atkinsii and a nice leaf Cyclamen alpinum at Wisley yesterday.