Galanthus March 2009

[Mavers]

Yes, I'll not mention the name of the supplier who this year sent me a £40 snowdrop contorted through the empty spaces of a recycled bubble pack 

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!


Oh................. plus P+P

[Gerard Oud]

Loes,
I dont feed the Maximus anything special besides some "horse-droppings". I got mine from a older colleage who grows them over 40 years. Did you plant them last year or are they settled for some years?
Martin,
I can send you some this summer dormant or now in the green.

[Martin Baxendale]

Martin, it is sometimes not easy to identify dormant bulbs unless your growing regime is very well organised, and even then. Last summer I tried to find a bulb of 'Ailidh' for Chris (see pic above). I knew where they were, but could I find them? No! The bulbs have duly flowered exactly where the label said they were, and exactly where I looked! I must have planted them much deeper than I thought.

Tell me about it! Seriously though, I agree it can be a problem in the garden, but professional growers should be able to keep their stocks for sale segregated enough to be pretty sure what's what at lifting time in dormancy. Growers of other kinds of bulbs do it okay. Mistakes can happen of course, as they can with other bulbs sold dormant, and with many nursery plants shipped out of flower, but I think the overall benefits of getting sound, firm bulbs, their growing cycle complete and virtually guaranteed to flower and grow the next year outweighs the drawbacks. There are snowdrop growers who do it, e.g. Paul Christian and Janet of Judy's Snowdrops. In fact, Janet's dormant bulbs are a real treat to receive, clean, healthy, large and solid, and always correctly named.

[loes]

Gerard,

yes they are newly planted and still growing.the tallest is ,just measured,27 cm.

[johnw]

David - Paper towel and toilet roll tubes are too flimsy here in North America

This morning I saw  4 foot white plastic tubes at a hardware store, they are called vacuum cleaner tubes. $3.95 each and they looked to be perfect for mailing plants if sawed into smaller sections.

We took some Beschornerias to Ireland in a very stout cardboard tube that was indestructible and very heavy, far too costly to post. The remnant here we can stand on without collapsing.

johnw

[wolfgang vorig]

hello,

Galanthus nivalis some without a name.

regards,   Wolfgang

[chasw]

Here are a few out in the garden today,we seem to be behind in the flowering stakes,although only in Northamptonshire they were under the snow for quite some time

 Sally Pasmore
 Primrose Warburg
 Jessica
 The Pearl

[Paddy Tobin]

Four beautiful snowdrops, Chris.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

Is 'Jessica' supposed to be elwesii 'Jessica'? In which case it should have green tips and a very different mark, a sinus V-mark blurring upwards, not a solid mark. Also the ovary on elwesii 'Jessica' is much longer and thinner. Unless this is another 'Jessica'. Looks like it has a plicate leaf.

[chasw]

Well just had a look through the book and you are right ,thank you,I will have to see what the seller says when I next see them.................................my original was stolen from the front of my house so purchased this from him to replace it,

Thanks Martin

[johnw]

Is 'Jessica' supposed to be elwesii 'Jessica'? In which case it should have green tips and a very different mark, a sinus V-mark blurring upwards, not a solid mark. Also the ovary on elwesii 'Jessica' is much longer and thinner. Unless this is another 'Jessica'. Looks like it has a plicate leaf.

Here is a Jessica shot at Covertside, not terribly clear.

johnw

[KentGardener]

I didn't order many plants this year as money is rather tight now that I am a single person household.  But wanted to say how HAPPY I was with the delivery received this week from Angela Whinfield at Snape Cottage.   Big fat bulbs, wrapped in damp moss, placed into plastic bags, layered with scrumpled newspaper in a strong sturdy cardboard box.  Very good. 

Fingers crossed that Angela does decide to do a list again next year or the year after as I was very pleased with the ones that I got. 

Regards

John

[Thomas Seiler]

Today I received my order from Avon Bulbs and was very satisfied. The packing was excellent, each bulb in a plastic bag with enough wet soil, so they could not dry out. Everything in a good and solid box. It was a pleasure to unpack it and find good looking plants. Each bulb with at least one good bulblet or even a second bulb of flowering size. 

[Anthony Darby]

Nice to see some positive feedback from satisfied customers. I always send positive feedback to the supplier, or at least acknowledge receipt. I would expect the same. A bit like replying to an email or message. That having been said, I'm sure some messages get overlooked.

[annew]

Nicely packed bulbs from Monksilver today.