Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: Blonde Ingrid on February 05, 2018, 08:33:42 PM
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Great news!
Joze Bavcon of the University Gardens Ljubljana's 2018 snowdrop offering is now live!
They have a tremendous range of named and unusually nowadays unnamed snowdrops that are beautiful and excellent growers!
Not only will you be getting excellent quality snowdrops but also supporting a Horticultural organisation, which we all know can do with whatever help they can get.
The range will increase as the weather permits so keep looking as new ones appear frequently.
Good hunting!
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/the-shop/plants (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/the-shop/plants)
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More good news from Joze Bavcon and The University Gardens Ljubljana they have a new book listing and there is a sale on, including his excellent snowdrop book is reduced in price!
Like me, you might find the notion of a book on a Parsnip perplexing. However, it is a thoroughly good read!
All books have an Engish translation alongside the Slovenian, payment is straightforward and they have an excellent fast service.
Give them a go!
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/the-shop/publication (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/the-shop/publication)
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Good news! Slovenia is emerging from the snow!
Joze Bavcon's Botanic Garden of Ljubljana snowdrops are now becoming available! Joze resists the temptation to name every drop in sight but the numbered drops (Nova Gorica) are stunning. The drops are stunners and come in all price ranges.
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen)
They are posted using speed post and thus arrive rapidly. They bulk quickly, in my experience, and you are supporting a botanic institute which we all know are always looking for funds.
I have included some photos of mine from this year and a reminder of Joze's excellent book which can be ordered at the same time.
There are fantastic virescent and other drops!
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You set me touring the website with an accompanying cup of coffee, Ingrid - and I am reminded that Jose Bavcon has also authored a book on Cyclamen purpurascens in Slovenia - which might also be of interest to members ....
[attachimg=1]
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/common-cyclamen (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/common-cyclamen)
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Joze has a whole series Maggs, I have a delightful read of one of his books on a Parsnip! No, I am not on drugs! ;D ;D ;D
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The prices of the Slovenian bulbs look astronomical.
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More of Joze's drops are available on his site. Interestingly, of the first 34 released 10 have now sold in two days, so you will need to move quickly.
These drops are great for those that cross drops, they are large seed producers, with a high germination rate.
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More of Joze's drops are available on his site.
His site?
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His site?
The site with Joze Bavcon's snowdrops is that of the Botanic Garden of Ljubljana - http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen)
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More of Joze's drops are available on his site. Interestingly, of the first 34 released 10 have now sold in two days, so you will need to move quickly.
A quick calculation suggests an average price per plant of about £150. If Mr Bavcon is lucky enough to have 34 or more customers willing to buy at those prices, he is a lucky man and I should like to bank with him.
BTW some of the flowers shown on the Ljubljana site look very much like many other named snowdrops widely available here in the UK. I just wonder, when over 2,000 varieties have been named just here in the UK, what is the motivation in growing similar plants from Slovenia (or Belgium, or anywhere). And, if Slovenia names 2,000 varieties (and if bulbs sell well at an average price of £150 there must be a temptation to name more) and Holland, Belgium, Germany each generate populations of 2,000 named varieties) then anyone looking to grow sizeable numbers of such foreign-named plants will need a garden the size of Northumberland (and a little army of gardeners).
And a very rich auntie.
:(
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Dr Joze Bavcon has put more drops up on the Botanic Garden site!
Currently he has sold 25 out of the 69 listed including today's latest additions, some of which have already gone! I got my choice but you have to be quick for the rare varieties!
Don't forget Joze's excellent snowdrop book. ;D
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Average price per plant now £175. And all you can see is flower-heads.
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In fact, the average price per pot currently displayed (62) is 147 Euros or £130, the price per plant will be lower as there are clearly more than one plant in many pots. From personal experience, i know that there are often more than one bulb per pot. Worth observing that some drops are on sale for around 20 Euros or £18.
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There are many that are beautiful either available or sold out but they are bit pricey for me at the momment and especially compared to some that can be bought now for much less. Some of these may well be a cut up on many available more widely but I'll wait for a bit to see if they get better value before starting to add them. I had one from Paul Barney this year that may be one of these and think I've already overspent!! All in good time...
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Yes, they do seem expensive, especially when the photographs are so small that with some of them you can't really tell what they are like, and being a Yorkshireman, I don't like to part with my cash on speculation! Nova Gorica must be a lovely place to look for snowdrops but I think I'll stick to what I can see clearly is something worth having.
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I emailed them last Friday wanting to buy one of the cheaper ones, but I have never received any answer. :(
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Leena - perhaps there was no-one on duty at the weekend?
What a good thing it is that we are able to choose where and when to spend our money.
I have heard such good reports of the Bavcon drops - - their good performance on the continent is less relevant to me, but the favourable reports mostly from the UK, which is most relevant to me, means that I would be hopeful of similar good growth rates from all these nivalis types in gardens here.
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I have heard such good reports of the Bavcon drops -
Why is it these nameless people never post themselves, rather than us hearing second hand reports, as it would help everyone else assess the situation and make their minds up?
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I have heard such good reports of the Bavcon drops - - their good performance on the continent is less relevant to me, but the favourable reports mostly from the UK, which is most relevant to me, means that I would be hopeful of similar good growth rates from all these nivalis types in gardens here.
I have admired many of the snowdrops that Jo˛e Bavcon introduced since I first got the book in 2011 and I am sure they are very good snowdrops as many of the Slovenian ones are like 'Hugh Mackenzie' and 'Prague Spring', but a good picture would be a great help in deciding whether you wanted to add it to your collection. I downloaded a picture from the website and tried to enlarge it so that I could see the finer details, but all to no avail as the picture became pixelated.
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Why is it these nameless people never post themselves, rather than us hearing second hand reports, as it would help everyone else assess the situation and make their minds up?
There are a LOT of people who do not indulge in either this Forum or any other (internet- based) social medium, David.
I do hope you are keeping better.
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There are a LOT of people who do not indulge in either this Forum or any other (internet- based) social medium
That may be so, however faceless advice, and indeed faceless criticism, is no advice or criticism at all.
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Leena - perhaps there was no-one on duty at the weekend?
Maggi, maybe you were right. :) I'm happy to say that got confirmation of my order this morning. I wanted one of them so that if they are fertile that would add more diversity to snowdrop genes in my garden, and I'm sure they are also quite hardy snowdrops.
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I wanted one of them so that if they are fertile that would add more diversity to snowdrop genes in my garden, and I'm sure they are also quite hardy snowdrops.
Good idea Leena, they certainly produce copious amounts of seed, I have had 25 seeds from a single plant for two consecutive years. They all seem to germinate as well, I have hundreds of seedlings in pots from them. Same report from friends I have given some of the varieties, hardy and good seed producers.
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A blog from Slovenia by Paul Veenvliet which may interest those wishing to learn more about the country -
https://www.natureincolour.eu/2018/03/20/more-spring-flowers/ (https://www.natureincolour.eu/2018/03/20/more-spring-flowers/)
This is a photo taken from the blog for illustration ...
[attachimg=1]
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That may be so, however faceless advice, and indeed faceless criticism, is no advice or criticism at all.
Maybe.... it would depend on how much I respect the opinions of the one repeating the "faceless advisors". I have to say though, that not many in the general population (especially in the USA) make it a habit to recognize the source of information before they decide it is true. (if it's on the internet, if it's in wikipedia - it's got to be true, rrriiiggghhhttt.....? ::) ::) ::)
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Leena - perhaps there was no-one on duty at the weekend?
What a good thing it is that we are able to choose where and when to spend our money.
I have heard such good reports of the Bavcon drops - - their good performance on the continent is less relevant to me, but the favourable reports mostly from the UK, which is most relevant to me, means that I would be hopeful of similar good growth rates from all these nivalis types in gardens here.
I am surprised there are so many people who can afford to buy these expensive Slovenian snowdrops. I haven't met any down here - maybe they all live in Scotland, despite what I've been told about Scots being careful with their money.... 8)
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I am surprised there are so many people who can afford to buy these expensive Slovenian snowdrops. I haven't met any down here - maybe they all live in Scotland, despite what I've been told about Scots being careful with their money.... 8)
Me too, interesting to compare the prices with this thread
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=15768.msg386259#msg386259 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=15768.msg386259#msg386259)
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What a good thing it is that we are able to choose where and when to spend our money.
Quite so Maggi. Seller offers snowdrop at fixed price; buyer, on the basis of beauty, recommendation from other growers, garden worthiness, stability and/or desire to support a horticultural institution, buys snowdrop. I don't think we need to consult the work of John Maynard Keynes to understand what is happening here.
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Or even Milton Friedman perhaps?
Ah well having been elevated recently to free tv license status the markets my oyster.
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Or even Milton Friedman perhaps?
Ah well having been elevated recently to free tv license status the markets my oyster.
So David, if advancing age = more free time, had you thought about doing something about your Eric Clapton thing? Maybe the Layla riff?
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Or even Milton Friedman perhaps?
Ah well having been elevated recently to free tv license status the markets my oyster.
So the world is your lobster?
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;D ;D ;D. Just goes to show how quickly language develops, I wasn't sure when I wrote it which was the funny version.
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Quite so Maggi. Seller offers snowdrop at fixed price; buyer, on the basis of beauty, recommendation from other growers, garden worthiness, stability and/or desire to support a horticultural institution, buys snowdrop. I don't think we need to consult the work of John Maynard Keynes to understand what is happening here.
I’d rather deal in facts than theories, and being a historian rely on primary evidence rather than secondary evidence too. I had hoped for a more helpful response, which this forum has always been known for in the past, as none of these appear in my copy of Dr Bavcon’s delightful book so how do you distinguish between these snowdrops when the pictures are so low resolution and the description minimal? A search for ‘Nova Gorica’ on Google brings up the Botanical Garden site, an eBay sale where someone paid over £200 and a post from 2015 from Paul Barney: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12887.msg328948#msg328948 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12887.msg328948#msg328948)
Or do you simply pay for the most expensive amongst those offered and hope they are sufficiently different?
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The Ljubljana Express arrives on Platform 4! Delighted with my latest additions from Joze Bavcon's excellent drops.
[attachimg=1]
Useful insight into snowdrop 'prices' and the danger of price assumptions. My special was purchased for a 'pot price of £x. The plant price is actually £x/4, vital information when determining price and expense. You buy the whole pot and there are very obviously, in the photographs on his site, more than one plant in many pots.! It is of course the reason why I gave the 'primary source' of my experience of this.
[attachimg=2]
The Botanic Gardens receive only one third of their funding from Government, relying on plant and book sales to be able to fund the staff, infrastructure improvement (Glasshouse heating etc), students etc, so I am delighted to help fund their effort, as I am sure most others are.
He has added more to his website, both named and unnamed and myself and up to 38 others so far, have found this a simple straightforward exercise, on:...
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen)
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The Botanic Gardens receive only one third of their funding from Government, relying on plant and book sales to be able to fund the staff, infrastructure improvement (Glasshouse heating etc), students etc, so I am delighted to help fund their effort, as I am sure most others are.
Rather sad to see the low level of govmt. funding the Ljubljana Botanic Garden receives - though I suppose it is not unique in this matter. It's lucky that Dr Bavcon is so proactive in supporting the institution to which he is obviously devoted.
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Rather sad to see the low level of govmt. funding the Ljubljana Botanic Garden receives - though I suppose it is not unique in this matter. It's lucky that Dr Bavcon is so proactive in supporting the institution to which he is obviously devoted.
I quite agree that the level of funding for the Botanic Garden is poor and that Dr Bavcon should be praised for being so proactive. He gave a most interesting talk at one of Joe's Galas some years ago. I would love to join in and buy some decent, different snowdrops to add to my collection. I still would like to know, however, how you could choose this snowdrop and know what you are getting for the price - especially as it is around £87.
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How Who knows what it is that moves anyone to buy anything? Some people are seeing enough, it appears, from the numbers being sold, to be happy.
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How Some people are seeing enough, it appears, from the numbers being sold, to be happy.
Quite, up to 49 others have added to their collection now.
Joze tells me that the season there is ending due to rising temperatures, so if you are thinking of buying, don't leave it too much longer!
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Dr Joze Bavcon still has some named and unnamed drops available on his site (University Gardens Ljubljana), at a wide range of price levels, some for 20-25 Euros; worth remembering the prices are per pot!
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen)
Mine have produced their usual blizzard of seed capsules/seeds that will be sown when ripe.
One of my favourite of the unnamed varieties:
[attachimg=1]
Don't forget his excellent book on snowdrops, plus the snowdrop booklet, mine contains several photos and detail on the named varieties.
[attachimg=2]
The increasing number of buyers is encouraging in terms of funding for this horticultural institute.
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I contacted the University on Thursday night (last week) and got a reply yesterday (Tuesday). Payment has been transferred and my chosen drop has been dispatched today, it was marked as sold yesterday. All in all the most time consuming part of the transaction was the setting up of the payment from my bank. Contact is good and whilst the images are not the best to go on I hope that I will be suitably pleased with my drop and even have an image to share next year.
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Dr Bavcon has spoken at at least one of Joe Sharman's Galanthus Galas, maybe other events in England too - and at one of the major Irish Galanthus galas too. I believe he sold some Slovenian 'drops at those events for considerable sums of money. Dr John Grimshaw and Matt Bishop, both well-known characters on the galanthus scene have visited Slovenia to speak at galas run by Dr Bavcon and I know he has been welcomed at several British and Irish gardens so new comers to snowdrop collecting can know he is reliable in his work for the Botanical Garden.
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Knocked out the final four Nova Gorica unnamed, just numbered this morning!
The usual great haul from Joze Bavcon's drops. Bought by the pot and priced that way, not only do you get additional bulbs with many but they increase well and include some super virescents!
Well worth keeping an eye on his site when the season starts and don't forget his excellent book!
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/common-snowdrop-galanthus-nivalis-l-in-slovenia (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/common-snowdrop-galanthus-nivalis-l-in-slovenia)
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It appears that the 2019 sales season has started with the first plant offered online.
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/the-shop/plants (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/the-shop/plants)
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Interestingly, Ian Young, just returned from speaking at the Co. Carlow Snowdrop Gala along with Ian Christie, reports seeing many super nivalis plants from Jose Bavcon's Slovenian offerings growing well and as well as being attractive plants, they are providing excellent new "blood" to the collections in some beautiful Irish gardens.
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Interestingly, Ian Young, just returned from speaking at the Co. Carlow Snowdrop Gala along with Ian Christie, reports seeing many super nivalis plants from Jose Bavcon's Slovenian offerings growing well and as well as being attractive plants, they are providing excellent new "blood" to the collections in some beautiful Irish gardens.
Another group that seems to have found it very easy to order from Joze! Very good snowdrops for any collection as they are prolific seeds producers.
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Here are some shots from today of Joze Bavcon's (University Gardens Ljubljana) snowdrops acquired over the last few years. Joze resists the urge, so current at present, to name anything and everything, so these all have numbers. Some cracking virescents amongst them.
All bulking and increasing rapidly.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Joze's current offering is available now on:
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen (http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/de/der-laden/pflanzen)
Very easy to order and all funds go to support the University Garden, and we know how short funds are for such institutions.
Good hunting!
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A good chance to get "new blood" for th galanthus in our collections for those of us who want a healthy breeding population for our snowdrops (these are known to make good seed ) and help an under-funded botanical institution at the same time.