Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: Mariette on January 10, 2025, 05:42:00 PM
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The New Year starts with snow, ´Wendy´s Gold´doesn´t mind.
(https://up.picr.de/49137038na.jpg)
´Mrs. Macnamara´on the left hasn´t yet opened its buds, the small clump to the right has bigger flowers and is always a bit earlier.
Maybe a seedling?
(https://up.picr.de/49137037co.jpg)
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Mariette, it is nice to see how your snowdrop season has started. :)
Here my 'Mrs Macnamara' was just showing its nose before New Year, now all are covered by snow and ground is frozen.
Finding nice seedlings is one of the best things and it is always exciting to see how they turn out. :)
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(http://1000021001x.png)Galanthus 'Colossus'
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These were some of the snowdrops in flower in my garden right before Christmas, and they still have some flowers now in January - yet a bit damaged by the rain:
'Godfrey Owen' no need to say which one it is - very distinctive flower shape, here in the garden it bulks up really fast, I started with one bulb and I was already able to plant it in more places in the open garden. I love this snowdrop.
the other one is 'Colossus' - in the same year, I bought it from the UK, a single bulb... It loves the light and sunny conditions, grows up really tall and lots of new bulbs in just few years ...a good doer.
More G. nivalis are starting to apear in the garden, let's see how they do in this very mild year here in the south.
Happy New gardening year to all in the forum.
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This winter, I have snow in my garden since Christmas, that's good but... I want to enjoy my snowdrops too. This week I hope that will happen. :)
(https://i.imgur.com/tDTL4Rvl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lekNvApl.jpg)
Thanks Leena for these lovely ones "bambini"! They appeared from the ground already in December.
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Stefan, here they flower in April, just like the others, but often come up fully developed when the snow melts, so I'm not surprised they are early in your warmer climate.
'Bambino' has been a very vigorous snowdrops here, not the biggest or most elegant, but a good snowdrop anyway. :)
I bought it from RSSnowdrops when it was still possible, I believe it is their named cultivar, but I'm not sure. There is not very much about it online.
I hope your snow melts so you can enjoy your snowdrops. Here their flowering time is always too short because of winter.
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It has been warmer and sunnier for several days :)
(https://i.imgur.com/CSxwphNl.jpg)
Galanthus elwesii 'Dickkopf'
(https://i.imgur.com/HJafpBEl.jpg)
Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships'
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Today it was a wonderful sunny day.
(https://i.imgur.com/bI8b0JU.jpeg)
Early Galanthus woronowii
(https://i.imgur.com/aZaN9TTl.jpg)
Galanthus plicatus 'Bambino'
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I haven't posted on here for a while!
Here is Bill Clark and my own (very slightly larger flowered) seedling.
The slugs have a definite preference for mine!!
Tim DH
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Winter is incredibly mild in Estonia this year. I don't remember having snowdrops so early.
1 G. elwesii 'Mrs Macnamara'
[attachimg=1]
2 G. elwesii 'Reverend Hailstone'
[attachimg=2]
3 G. elwesii 'Godfrey Owen'
[attachimg=3]
4 G. nivalis
[attachimg=4]
5 G. 'Sutton Courtenay'
[attachimg=5]
I hope there is no harsh cold in February!
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Villu, I hope the same for You!
Tim, congratulations on Your seedling! Is it G. plicatus or a hybrid?
Stefan, Your snowdrops are always well ahead of mine, but ielaba´s snowdrops are even earlier!
At least, we enjoyed the same sunshine and warmer temperatures today, and ´Mrs Macnamara´ opened some flowers.
(https://up.picr.de/49200599yv.jpg)
Close-up
(https://up.picr.de/49200598es.jpg)
Now that the little group shown January 10 opens its flowers it becomes obvious that it must be a seedling.
(https://up.picr.de/49200597rr.jpg)
´Golden Fleece´ is a snowdrop of superlatives: very beautiful, my earliest yellow one and extremely vigourous here. I started 2019 with one bulb and ended up with next to 40 this year.
(https://up.picr.de/49200596wa.jpg)
Less prone to bulking in my garden, but I like it, too: G. alpinus.
(https://up.picr.de/49200594gw.jpg)
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At last the star of the day: G. trojanus. I´m extremely grateful for that treasure to a very generous forumist!
(https://up.picr.de/49200595hk.jpg)
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Hi I will soon be receiving seed from the NZ Trillium Group, I will contact you when it arrives to see if there is anyhting that might interest you.
Does your G. Golden Fleece usually set seed?
Regards
Jeff
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Hi Jeff, ´Golden Fleece´doesn´t set much seed with me, but with its breeder, as he told me. Also, the seeds of it I tried didn´t germinate as well as others.
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Hi All,
I really like the yellow Galanthus; but, I can't find a U.S. source, and the cost of a Phyto makes buying from a UK supplier prohibitive. If anyone knows of a reliable Australian, or Canadian [or any other country with a low cost Phyto service] grower, who does export, I would be grateful.
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Lovely snowdrops everyone! :)
Winter is incredibly mild in Estonia this year. I don't remember having snowdrops so early.
Your snowdrops are looking good :), and so early. Winter has also here been mild, but here the earliest snowdrops are just poking through ground, and it will get cold again here before the real spring. :( There is still some snow, but about half has now melted temporarily.
This is 'Bess' in a very early spot, but it seems to be an early snowdrop anyway.
[attachimg=1]
´Golden Fleece´ is a snowdrop of superlatives: very beautiful, my earliest yellow one and extremely vigourous here. I started 2019 with one bulb and ended up with next to 40 this year.
'Golden Fleece' looks so beautiful! And how vigorous it is. I hope mine will also be vigorous in time. :)
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It is looking really promising already, Leena!
But I think it is better to have them small in our latitudes in this time! ;)
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At last the star of the day: G. trojanus. I´m extremely grateful for that treasure to a very generous forumist!
(https://up.picr.de/49200595hk.jpg)
Gorgeous!
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Seeding from G. 'Rosemary Burnham'. I was waiting for a week to open, today I was very happy while I was shooting it. For the first time it blooms, the seed is planted 2020.
(https://i.imgur.com/RfuOehfm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P3FKOgKm.jpg)
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Galanthus plicatus 'Wendy's Gold'
(https://i.imgur.com/IQdsOXll.jpg)
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Hi Mariette,
My yellow seedling is a hybrid.
Went with Dad to Harlow Carr today. They have a 'raised bed' of named snowdrops up by the Alpine House. Being out doors they are a bit battered, but its a decent collection. I should have counted, but maybe 30 cultivars?
Tim DH
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Went with Dad to Harlow Carr today. They have a 'raised bed' of named snowdrops up by the Alpine House. Being out doors they are a bit battered, but its a decent collection. I should have counted, but maybe 30 cultivars?
Tim DH
What a delight to see your Father out and about - best wishes to you both!!
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Indeed - and it evokes fond memories, as we visited Harlow Carr several times in the past when staying with friends in Leeds. Never at snowdrop time, but I remember marvelling at a big rhubarb collection - nothing I´ve ever seen in Germany!
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What a delight to see your Father out and about - best wishes to you both!!
IRG 180
This is the first issue of the sixteenth year of the International Rock Gardener. A monthly freely available online magazine on the @ScottishRockgc website.
Robert Rolfe gives an insight into the Royal Horticultural Society garden of Harlow Carr in Harrogate, Yorkshire and Gerrit and Ibelje Eijkelenboom continue their travels with part two of Orchids of southern France, the orchids in the month of May.
Download here: https://www.srgc.net/documents/irg/250130172424IRG%20180.pdf
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Thanks Maggi,
I go to Harlow Carr quite often, but I've not seen the Cyprediums...
Tim DH
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Seeding from G. 'Rosemary Burnham'. I was waiting for a week to open, today I was very happy while I was shooting it. For the first time it blooms, the seed is planted 2020.
How nice that you have gotten seeds from RB. I don't think mine has produced seeds so far, maybe I don't have any suitable partner for it close by.
Here 'Rosemary Burnham' has not yet come up, but end of January was very warm and most of the snow and ground frost melted and early snowdrops have come up more. During the week end weather turned colder again, but only between 0 to -10C, so I think snowdrops can take it. No snow at the moment.
Here are some pictures from the last day of January.
Most advanced ones are 'Mrs Macnamara'
[attachimg=1]
'Bess'
[attachimg=2]
'Colossus'
[attachimg=3]
'Fenstead End' and Helleborus odorus
[attachimg=4]
An unnamed G.elwesii which is always early.
[attachimg=5]
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'Bambino' is now also early this year. Maybe it is always early if weather allows it to be.
[attachimg=1]
This is a seedling from Stefan. :) And seems to be early too, but many times snowdrops from Europe are early in their first year here, and later adjust to our climate.
I protect it with spruce brances and dry leaves now that temperatures are below freezing again, and also because right next to it are some Epimedium seedlings which I try to protect.
[attachimg=2]
I have four G.lagodechianus from different sources, and this one is the earliest. It is G.lagodechianus from Armenia, bought from Augis bulbs.
[attachimg=3]
'Lord Lieutenant' with Cyclamen purpurascens
[attachimg=4]
'S.Arnott'
[attachimg=5]
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I think all these are in full bloom later in April, when winter is over. We'll see how they are then after the cold.
One more picture. This is ordinary G.nivalis, always hardy, and it is nice to see how it comes through even big fallen leaves.
[attachimg=1]
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Hi Leena,
I will be very much interested to learn how the different plant species in your garden respond to the lack of snow cover and (the potential) for extreme cold to penetrate deep into the ground. A number of years ago I conducted a study on how high elevation plant species in the Sierra Nevada Mountains responded to extreme cold and the absence of snow cover. In most cases snow cover prevented well below 0° C temperatures from penetrating deep into the soil. However, without snow cover it was possible for well below 0° C temperatures to penetrate deep into the soil and remain low as long as extremely cold air temperatures and no snow cover persisted. Once snow cover returned an upward heat flux in the soil stabilized temperatures at 0° C. Finland is likely much different in this regard.
In the Sierra Nevada Mountains extreme well below 0° C soil temperatures can cause a great deal of damage to some plant species, especially as spring approaches and many species begin to break dormancy. In addition, there are low soil temperature limits for some species even when they are completely dormant during the winter. This study was complicated by other variables that impacted the plants response to extremely cold soil temperatures, as well as its short duration. From the perspective of ornamental horticulture, a great deal still needs to be sorted out. We all want to grow well adapted plants in our gardens. Any information you wish to share on this topic will be greatly appreciated.
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To import from the UK into the US try Morlas Plants https://www.morlasplants.co.uk/ . They regularly ship bulbs to the US and are highly experienced in providing the correct growing conditions to meet phytosanitary regulations and preparing the necessary documentation. They list at least three yellow snowdrops for sale on their website and might be building up stock of others.
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Hi Robert,
winter came here in the end of November, and ground started to freeze then. In December we got snow and coldest was -12C. Then after Christmas temperatures got warmer again, and some of the ground frost melted as well as snow. First part of January was cold again with snow, the lowest -14C (these are not very cold here) and the last week of January was much warmer than usual, and snow melted away and most of the ground frost also melted. Now it will be at least for the next two weeks nights below freezing and days around 0C or little below so ground will freeze again when there is no snow. So this winter has been up and down all the time. Long term forecast says it will be warmer than usual, but still probably at least some of the time below freezing day and night. I think the worst for plants will be if ground is frozen and it will rain and water then freezes above ground (because it can't penetrate the ground) to form an ice cover. That is what killed many of my plants in winter 2022. In winter 2020 was warm like now, or actually a little warmer. Snowdrops were well advanced by this time, but they were not harmed by couple of weeks cold period later in February. Ground frost melted then in early March, but of course there were nightly frosts until mid April (days above zero).
There is not much I can do now, but I have tried to protect the plants I think are not so hardy with dry autumn leaves and spruce branches, though of course I can't cover the whole garden. Most of the plants will have to cope with this, and it seems this has become more usual with climate change.
It is also an apportunity to learn if there are differences in snowdrops (or other plants - for instance I am a bit worried about autumn flowering crocuses which have grown leaves now, those I have tried to protect more), if some can take this type of weather better than others. For sure I can say 'Mrs Macnamara' will come through well. I have had it now for more than 10 years with several this type of winters, and it starts to flower early, and then after the cold period it is like nothing has happened and continues to flower. I have had some nameless G.elwesii which have suffered and even died, and at the same time some others from the same bulk bulbs have been ok.
When I started with snowdrops, at first I tried to concentrate to late flowering ones, which would be underground in this type of winter, but soon discovered than some or even most of the early or midseason ones will be fine, too.
Still, winter for me is easier when there is not much snow, and heating doesn't cost so much when it isn't so cold. Also spring will probably come earlier, and I am very much looking forward to it.
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Hi Leena,
I cannot thank you enough for all the information you shared in your last posting. For me, learning about plants and gardening is limitless. There is always something new to learn and our gardens continually evolve.
I will be reporting on current weather trends and plants in our part of Northern California in about a week. There has been an extended anomalous wet/dry swing in our weather since early January. This is not unusual for our region; however, I tend to get concerned during long dry periods during our "rainy" season. Too often, the extended dry periods will continue into drought. So far this season the precipitation totals are hopeful and the plants are doing well. Snow levels and amounts in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are troubling, but I will report on this in more detail with my next report.
I look forward to learn how this winter's weather will impact the plants in your garden. There is always something new to learn, and I for one, benefit greatly from the information that you share. 8) :)
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I am a completely novice Galanthophile. I've got some G nivalis 'Trumps' in the green coming after a trip to Cambo Gardens.
I want to put them in an alpine trough I am going to plant up this year. I was thinking of growing them in a pot this year and planting them in the trough after flowering next year. If this is not advisable what is the best way to keep them until I'm ready to plant up the trough?
Any help gratefully received.
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Alan,
Thank you!
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I am a completely novice Galanthophile. I've got some G nivalis 'Trumps' in the green coming after a trip to Cambo Gardens.
I want to put them in an alpine trough I am going to plant up this year. I was thinking of growing them in a pot this year and planting them in the trough after flowering next year. If this is not advisable what is the best way to keep them until I'm ready to plant up the trough?
Any help gratefully received.
Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snowdrops!
Your Trumps should be fine. Don't keep them in too small a pot in case they dry out too much in the summer but depending on when you plant your trough you could put them in while dormant, or as you say after flowering next year (probably most of us do split snowdrops in the green, although you will inevitably get a bit of root damage while doing so). Trumps is a good vigorous cultivar so should build up quickly for you.
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Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snowdrops!
Your Trumps should be fine. Don't keep them in too small a pot in case they dry out too much in the summer but depending on when you plant your trough you could put them in while dormant, or as you say after flowering next year (probably most of us do split snowdrops in the green, although you will inevitably get a bit of root damage while doing so). Trumps is a good vigorous cultivar so should build up quickly for you.
Thanks so much. They are now in a nice large pot!
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Leena, it´s good to see Your snowdrops are on the way - I´m looking forward to see them in full flower!
Stefan, I like Your seedling of ´Rosemary Burnham´even better than the parent! Nice to have such offspring!
A visit to Kalmthout last Saturday allowed to meet friends and to acquire a snowdrop which was on my wishlist: G. woronowii
´The Naked Truth´
(https://up.picr.de/49249779qi.jpg)
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Leena, it´s good to see Your snowdrops are on the way - I´m looking forward to see them in full flower!
Stefan, I like Your seedling of ´Rosemary Burnham´even better than the parent! Nice to have such offspring!
A visit to Kalmthout last Saturday allowed to meet friends and to acquire a snowdrop which was on my wishlist: G. woronowii
´The Naked Truth´
Mariette, I was also there. It is a pity we didn’t meet eachother. The garden was also beautiful, with a lot of Hamamelis.
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Oh yes, that´s a pity! After all, it has been the first time for many years that we visited Kalmthout - I was keen to enjoy Wim Boens´ talk. He always presents plants one hasn´t yet dreamt of, but also many sound choices for less ambitious gardeners. Indeed, the weather was far better than it is today over here, and the parc with its hamamelis collection was at its best. :)