Galanthus in October 2017

[Alan_b]

Speaking of G. r-o 'Ruby's Green Dream', does anyone have anecdotal stories surrounding Ruby Baker and the naming of this relatively new G. r-o?

The original snowdrop named 'Ruby Baker' was a snowdrop that Ruby had admired on a garden visit.  The act of naming was a spontaneous act of goodwill and friendship without thought to whether the snowdrop was merely nice or a great snowdrop that should commemorate a great galanthophile.  John Grimshaw gave some more details here: http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ruby-baker-1923-2014.html .

Joe Sharman was of the opinion that this snowdrop was not memorable enough so when he originated a reginae-olgae with strong green markings on the outer petals, the first of its kind in this species to be commercially available, he sold it as Galanthus reginae-olgae 'Ruby Baker' (beginning in 2012, I think).  But naming rules apply to genus rather than species so Joe always knew that he was unlikely to be allowed to get away with this and thus he was obliged, after a while, to come up with a new official name.  He discussed various options with Ruby and decided that the best of these, of which she approved, was 'Ruby's Green Dream'.       

[Rick Goodenough]

Thank you, Alan. That is a helpful bit of history and it is nice to know that Ruby was involved in finalizing the re-naming of it. And while I had read bits and pieces about the re-naming of this drop I had missed the part of the story involving Ruby's input on the new name. All good.

Thank you again,

Rick

[Brian Ellis]

Flowering this morning is the first non G.reginæ-olgæ in the garden G. elwesii hiemalis 'Howard Wheeler', whilst 'Rainbow Farm Early' is 'in spear' and showing white.

[Alan_b]

If faced with a line-up of named elwesii Hiemalis Group snowdrops, could we tell them apart?  First, two pictures of 'Hollis'.  On its home turf this grows into a large plant with very long leaves by later in the season.  I received it as such but it never performs as well for me and maintains an ordinary size.  There seems to be a nice little point to the ends of the outer petals; could this be an identifying feature?



By contrast 'Remember Remember' has larger flowers on tall floppy stems.

I've just spotted a faint band of green markings about 1/4 of the petal length from the tip in the photograph.  I checked and they really are there; it isn't a trick of the camera.         

[Brian Ellis]

Just to show how fickle they are.  As I said in a previous post 'Rainbow Farm Early' is in spear, it is in full sun.  By the side of the house I have a variety of pots in the shade of the house and fence.  In one of them is a 'Rainbow Farm Early' in full flower.  Theses are less than 20 metres apart.

[johnralphcarpenter]

The original snowdrop named 'Ruby Baker' was a snowdrop that Ruby had admired on a garden visit.  The act of naming was a spontaneous act of goodwill and friendship without thought to whether the snowdrop was merely nice or a great snowdrop that should commemorate a great galanthophile.  John Grimshaw gave some more details here: http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ruby-baker-1923-2014.html .

Joe Sharman was of the opinion that this snowdrop was not memorable enough so when he originated a reginae-olgae with strong green markings on the outer petals, the first of its kind in this species to be commercially available, he sold it as Galanthus reginae-olgae 'Ruby Baker' (beginning in 2012, I think).  But naming rules apply to genus rather than species so Joe always knew that he was unlikely to be allowed to get away with this and thus he was obliged, after a while, to come up with a new official name.  He discussed various options with Ruby and decided that the best of these, of which she approved, was 'Ruby's Green Dream'.       

He was still selling it as 'Ruby Baker' at the Great Dixter Plant Fair last weekend.

[Maggi Young]

He was still selling it as 'Ruby Baker' at the Great Dixter Plant Fair last weekend.

 

[Alan_b]

Just to show how fickle they are.  As I said in a previous post 'Rainbow Farm Early' is in spear, it is in full sun.  By the side of the house I have a variety of pots in the shade of the house and fence.  In one of them is a 'Rainbow Farm Early' in full flower.  Theses are less than 20 metres apart.

I suspect that the trigger for many of the early elwesiis is a reduction in the soil temperature coupled with a sufficient quantity of moisture in the soil.  August and September were relatively cool and wet in East Anglia and I imagine that is what has brought things on early.  For these particular snowdrops I often find that plants in pots flower sooner than the same cultivar in the ground, often by several weeks.  This could be because the soil in the pot cools more rapidly than ground temperatures as the season progresses.   

[Alan_b]

He was still selling it as 'Ruby Baker' at the Great Dixter Plant Fair last weekend.

Plants can have official names and trade names that are different.  Joe Sharman uses 'Ruby Baker' as a trade name but for publications the name is 'Ruby's Green Dream'.

[Mariette]

This unnamed G. elwesii flowers a month earlier than usual. I had to free it from the surrounding perennials when I noticed that by chance.

[David Nicholson]

Plants can have official names and trade names that are different.  Joe Sharman uses 'Ruby Baker' as a trade name but for publications the name is 'Ruby's Green Dream'.

How can that be? Surely it's a recipe for both mis-selling and confusion amongst less qualified buyers?

[Alan_b]

How can that be? Surely it's a recipe for both mis-selling and confusion amongst less qualified buyers?

I'm not sure how readily available the true 'Ruby Baker' is and in any case the most obvious consequence of confusion is that somebody buys one or other of the two cultivars but not both - because they think they already have it.  So only the sellers are harmed in that case, not the buyers.  Named snowdrops are rarely if ever sold by large prestigious nurseries like Thompson and Morgan.  Until that happens there is nobody likely to take action under circumstances like these.  The case is different when it comes to any reviewed publication where the correct name would have to be used. 

[Rick Goodenough]

As promised...here is an update on my G. r-o 'Ruby Baker' fully open with daughter bulbs pretty well opened now, too. Quite excited about its performance so far and happy to have it gracing my garden.

Rick

[Brian Ellis]

Thanks Rick, and a lovely photograph too

[Alan_b]

Dangerous days for snowdrops here; many of the early snowdrops are appearing unusually early whilst the weather is unusually warm so slugs and snails are highly active.  This is what happens if you are not vigilant.



On a more positive note, this is an elwesii seedling that arose in my garden.  It has an x-shaped mark on the inner petals that is quite unusual to find in an early elwesii.  There is one called 'Advent' and another called 'Frinton Advent' that are similar but I don't know of any others.