Galanthus reginae-olgae flowering dates

[Derryclare]

For the second year running G reginae-olgae rachelae is the first snowdrop to appear.  I grow all my snowdrops in the open garden although the aspect/microclimate varies.  This one is at the front of a south-facing border in Bedfordshire but I have no sign yet  of any of my others.  I bought 'rachelae' as one bulb at the East Anglia AGS bulb sale  in 2014, vendor unknown.  It flowered that November, then in October in 2016 (no specific date and no notes for 2015 although I am sure it flowered).  I reckon  this year's flowers opened at least 3 days ago.

Is anyone else finding much earlier flowers this year and which are your earliest forms of reginae-olgae? 

[Maggi Young]

There are a couple of mentions of  G. reginae olgae flowering at approximately this time in some previous years, e.g. 2015 and 2016 but  most come from much later in the year. Most of the September mentions are just about the noses appearing.   This year I think quite a lot of bulb, corms and tubers  have  been keener than usual to get going!

[Brian Ellis]

Well first out of the starting gates was G. reginæ olgæ 'Melvyn Jope', next came 'Naomi Slade' and then 'Ruby's Green Dream' AKA G. reginæ olgæ 'Ruby Baker' to some.  Two of them are in the open garden and the middle one in the shade of the house on gravel:

[Maggi Young]

They're pretty quick off the mark, aren't they?  I wonder if growth ( multiplication)  will be aided by the chance of a longer season in growth? You'd hope so, wouldn't you?

[Gail]

My first reginae-olgae (potted) opened today. There are a couple more in open garden which won't be long.

[Alan_b]

 I have a small selection of reginae-olgaes, most of which are in bud.  I think a lot of us are finding that this is a particularly early season for the early snowdrops.  Late spring was unusually dry then the last couple of months have been wet and not particularly warm.  Any plant that does not measure its time by length of day could be forgiven for thinking that it is later in the year than the calendar would indicate.   

[Derryclare]

A lovely description, Alan, of exactly how i feel!

[johnralphcarpenter]

A month earlier than last year, Galanthus reginae-olgae 'Cambridge'.

[pehe]

This group of unnamed RO has been flowering for about 2 weeks

Poul

[Brian Ellis]

Lovely

[steve owen]

r/0 Eleni has been flowering here for about two weeks.

[sokol]

The first are starting here. The plants from different seed collections at Taygetos are always the first.



This one from the same group was the first and it opened its flower at 22.09.2017

[ashley]

The first are starting here. The plants from different seed collections at Taygetos are always the first.

Stefan, what a lovely autumn scene