Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: daveyp1970 on January 04, 2012, 03:21:45 PM
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New yellow drop http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALANTHUS-PLICATUS-WANBLEBURT-RING-/380399893529?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item589199bc19#ht_490wt_1157 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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'Wanbleburt Ring' = great name ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I wonder who found it?.....
According to goodle images - this is a picture of 'Bert Womble' ;D Could it be him?....
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And another odd one. "Buyer beware" I believe is the standard legal warning for any purchase.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALANTHUS-ELWESSI-CAPTAIN-BOWLES-/380399899872?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item589199d4e0#ht_483wt_1157
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Folks, I have have moved these posts to their own thread.
In the past these threads about Ebay have become rather heated : I would hope that this will not happen again.
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Folks, I have have moved these posts to their own thread.
In the past these threads about Ebay have become rather heated : I would hope that this will not happen again.
Hi Maggi
I think it is a great idea to start a separate ""ebay"" thread 8)
(Personally, I could even be tempted to put the words 'ebay 2012' in the title so anyone reading knows where to post personal ebay thoughts)....
It is great for everyone to have a place for any 'friendly' discussion and peoples 'personal thoughts' about any ebay listings that might attract an individuals interest..... ;)
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I'll happily remove my post if you're worried about starting trouble, Maggi. I just always feel concerned, when ebay snowdrop offerings appear that look problematic to more "expert" eyes, that it would be wrong not to say something. But I understand that it causes you concern.
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Martin, I don't think there is any problem with what you wrote.
I was merely making a pre-emptive comment since in the past the subject of Ebay has created a lot of bad feeling....so it was just a general hope for good behaviour.
I have been told by some people that they do not feel they have the time or inclination to behave politely, but I feel that it is quite essential in the forum to refrain from rudeness.
Surely any subject can be the subject of discussion while maintaining some standard of common courtesy ?
Edit : So, no need to call anyone names just because the price isn't what you like, eh?!!
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thread re-titled
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Martin, I don't think there is any problem with what you wrote.
I was merely making a pre-emptive comment since in the past the subject of Ebay has created a lot of bad feeling....so it was just a general hope for good behaviour.
I have been told by some people that they do not feel they have the time or inclination to behave politely, but I feel that it is quite essential in the forum to refrain from rudeness.
Surely any subject can be the subject of discussion while maintaining some standard of common courtesy ?
Edit : So, no need to call anyone names just because the price isn't what you like, eh?!!
Okey dokey.
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According to google images - this is a picture of 'Bert Womble' ;D Could it be him?....
I thought the Wombles all had geographical names like Bulgaria and Orinoco (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wombles). "Bert" hardly seems in keeping.
The seller of "Wanbleburt Ring", "chinaboyz", seems to have built-up an eBay reputation selling china and has now diversified into snowdrops of his own invention. It's scarily reminiscent of toy-seller "alancirrus" (still going strong on eBay) from a few years ago. The moral is that when you buy on eBay and you read the seller's % positive feedback, it's very important to find out what they have been selling to achieve that positive feedback.
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I have bought successfully on EBay and will probably do so in the future.
Just like an ordinary auction you should research the seller, set a price and stick to it.
Of course it is better to establish friends who grow a wide range of snowdrops and are willing to swap, and some who are generous in giving you plants to enhance your collection.
Remember if you have 3 plants - keep one, give one away and swap the third. When your plant dies you have 2 chances to get it back :)
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I've bought successfully on ebay too, Arthur. Some excellent snowdrops can be had from there if, as you say, you're sure that you're dealing with someone reliable and honest. The nerve of some supposed snowdrop sellers though really is hard to believe. Sometimes you only have to take one look at their ads to realise that they don't know the first thing about snowdrops and can't possibly be really offering what they say they have. The more worrying ones are those that are clever enough to sound just plausible enough to catch out the unwary and the less expert.
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Some excellent snowdrops can be had from there if, as you say, you're sure that you're dealing with someone reliable and honest. The nerve of some supposed snowdrop sellers though really is hard to believe.
My lesson from last year (falling for the Elizabeth Harrison fakes) is... if it sounds too good to be true then it is most probably is too good to be true.
Buy from someone you already know and trust.
Don't expect any satisfaction from ebay (which I didn't) over dispute resolution... they were utterly useless.
Malcolm.
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I think the eBay dispute resolution process can work, but only if you push very hard indeed. It might help to liken a fake snowdrop (a concept eBay do not understand) to a fake autograph (a concept eBay do understand). In both cases a naive purchaser might not spot the fake but an expert would. In the case of 'Elizabeth Harrison' I'm not sure if anyone except Ian Christie has possession of it.
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I've had some very good experiences buying snowdrops on Ebay, and one very bad experience which remains unresolved, despite the repeated promises to refund, this never happened. The ebay dispute process (very successful for me in a non-plant case) is limited by the time element which was no use in this instance. On the whole, I think Ebay is a brilliant organisation, but for plant buying, you need to be extra careful.
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The seller of "Wanbleburt Ring", "chinaboyz", seems to have built-up an eBay reputation selling china and has now diversified into snowdrops of his own invention.
Just idly looking to see what all this was about, I was horrified to see that he comes from Norwich - please note it is not me ???
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'Wanbleburt Ring' = great name ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I wonder who found it?.....
According to goodle images - this is a picture of 'Bert Womble' ;D Could it be him?....
John your discoverer looks quite like our Steve Owen ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Alan_b makes a good point regarding ebay's concept of a fake snowdrop.
I have had mostly good experiences buying snowdrops & orchids on ebay.
The one bad experience was a couple of years ago when I was sent a misnamed dactylorhiza & ebay were useless because by the time the plant flowered the time period for recourse had expired.
I suggested to ebay that they extend their time limit when dealing with plants & bulbs to allow for flowering & verification.
'Captain Bowles' is certainly a new one on me ::)
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"Chinaboyz" is currently selling:
GALANTHUS PLICATUS -WANBLEBURT RING
GALANTHUS PLICATUS - TRYM
GALANTHUS ELWESSI - CAPTAIN BOWLES
GALANTHUS NIVALIS - GREEN NECKLACE
GALANTHUS NIVALIS -BABY ARNOT
There are no pictures and three of the five names are his own invention. Buyer beware.
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"Chinaboyz" is currently selling:
GALANTHUS PLICATUS -WANBLEBURT RING
GALANTHUS PLICATUS - TRYM
GALANTHUS ELWESSI - CAPTAIN BOWLES
GALANTHUS NIVALIS - GREEN NECKLACE
GALANTHUS NIVALIS -BABY ARNOT
There are no pictures and three of the five names are his own invention. Buyer beware.
I've asked him send me a picture of Captain Bowles!!! ::)
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Similar in nature to E.ABowles this version Captain Bowles is a bit more robust.You are bidding on 1 bulb it is of the Galanthus elwesii family and has a larger flower of white with a green markings.
Given that E.A. Bowles is a cultivar of G. plicatus and given that it is a poculiform snowdrop so has no green markings, I fail to see what possible similarity there could be. Except, perhaps, that they are both snowdrops!
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Some of Chinaboyz's descriptions are quite incredible:
Picture not added yet as not in flower..You are bidding on 1 bulb of an exceptionally Rare snowdrop called -BABY ARNOT it is of the Galanthus Nivalis family and has a single flower of pure white, markings as wih Susan Arnot green V downward pointing inner trumpet.It is a truly lovely snodrop and worth every penny.
"Susan" Arnott???
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'Wanbleburt Ring' = great name ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I wonder who found it?.....
According to goodle images - this is a picture of 'Bert Womble' ;D Could it be him?....
John your discoverer looks quite like our Steve Owen ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Nah! I think Steve is much more of a teddy bear than a womble. ;)
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'Wanbleburt Ring' = great name ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I wonder who found it?.....
According to goodle images - this is a picture of 'Bert Womble' ;D Could it be him?....
John your discoverer looks quite like our Steve Owen ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Nah! I think Steve is much more of a teddy bear than a womble. ;)
That's a fair point Maggie ;D ;D
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Hello to all!
Thank you very much for the warning!!
Hope more people will read it.
Martina
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Some of Chinaboyz's descriptions are quite incredible:
Picture not added yet as not in flower..You are bidding on 1 bulb of an exceptionally Rare snowdrop called -BABY ARNOT it is of the Galanthus Nivalis family and has a single flower of pure white, markings as wih Susan Arnot green V downward pointing inner trumpet.It is a truly lovely snodrop and worth every penny.
"Susan" Arnott???
Almost sounds like Chinese with an English accent ;D
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'Wanbleburt Ring' = great name ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I wonder who found it?.....
According to goodle images - this is a picture of 'Bert Womble' ;D Could it be him?....
John your discoverer looks quite like our Steve Owen ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Nah! I think Steve is much more of a teddy bear than a womble. ;)
That's a fair point Maggie ;D ;D
Less noise IVc or you'll all be in detention tonight...
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Ooops! He was listening! :-[
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Chinaboyz is now using the same photo for Green Necklace and Baby Arnott
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I made the mistake of accepting a bid for some moth eggs from "Alan Cirrus". :( He pestered me for feedback, which I gave, for prompt payment etc. He then proceeded to give me my only negative feedback with the words "avoid avoid avoid". >:( Needless to say, the feedback was so obviously bogus that it had no effect on subsequent sales and I blocked him bidding further, using his comments in some of my ads. He sells toys. I reluctantly sold a lot of model railway engines etc after that and had plenty of bidders.
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Chinaboyz is now using the same photo for Green Necklace and Baby Arnott
And using a pic of an elwesii clump to sell Plicatus 'Colossus'. And another interesting description:
Galanthus PLICATUS ‘COLOSSUS’
This snowdrop is a very large snowdrop with large leaves that grow to about 6-7 inches the snow drop itself has a tall stalk with a single four petal flower with a green trumpet.A truly Rare species.These are in flower now
.It is a truly lovely snowdrop and worth every penny.
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No-one has bid on any of his "rare" snowdrops. The listings are quite risible.
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Anthony
He fooled me last year
send me a replacement
they just start flowering
ordinary G. nivalis
over 100 pound lost
Roland
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funny that his picture of "Wanbleburt Ring" has a label saying "Wandlebury Ring" ::)
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Anthony
He fooled me last year
send me a replacement
they just start flowering
ordinary G. nivalis
over 100 pound lost
Roland
The only way forward is to advertise on Ebay genuine common snowdrops described as such and put in a section warning about the charlatans selling fake snowies, or do what I did with a photograph of the real McCoy, making sure you include "do not bid - it's a photograph"?
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Anthony
I do not think EBay will let you comment on the charlatans.
I tried to contact EBay - not easy - to complain about the Chinaboyz lots. Could not get past the screening process - at one point it said system has a problem, please try again later.
For whatever reason the public have had the good sense not to buy.
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You don't need to be specific, just sow the seeds, or perhaps plant the bulbs of doubt in prospective buyers minds? The problem with snowdrop bulbs is it takes such a long time to find out the 'mistake' there is no possible way to add feedback as that option has gone.
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Strong bidding on 'Green Tear', already over £100 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Green-Tear-Rare-Snowdrop-/270888269323?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item3f1232f60b#ht_500wt_1361
And Mrohowes (which must be the eBay trading name of Monksilver Nursery) has 'Ailwyn' for sale http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Ailwyn-snowdrop-/130625560931?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item1e69e3e163#ht_752wt_1344 , perhaps the best chance of getting a genuine one via eBay?
Meanwhile 'Chinaboyz' (of Wanbleburt fame) http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=chinaboyz&ftab=AllFeedback&myworld=true no longer has any snowdrops on sale.
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I've not heard of this snowdrop, but, if it is as in the photograph, a vigorous all green snowdrop is a good find. The fact that the seller is only selling this is curious.
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The secret is to read the post above your own, Anthony http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2604.480
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Yes I've just looked at my watch list & 'Wantaburp' etc seems to have been withdrawn. ;)
Perhaps all our questioning unnerved the seller.
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The secret is to read the post above your own, Anthony http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2604.480
Mmm. Seems like I have come across it. The seller suggests he is the original source of the bulb, i.e. finder, which is quite a claim.
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Yes I've just looked at my watch list & 'Wantaburp' etc seems to have been withdrawn. ;)
Perhaps all our questioning unnerved the seller.
Well done chaps
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The secret is to read the post above your own, Anthony http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2604.480
Mmm. Seems like I have come across it. The seller suggests he is the original source of the bulb, i.e. finder, which is quite a claim.
Hi Anthony, from the 2010 discussions.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6478.msg190579#msg190579
"We just wanted to say that the only person selling the real plant (Green Tear) on ebay is the seller : ramonhoi"
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Missed that as we were between houses then, with my computer still in a container at Tauranga.
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dmjs isnt selling to N Ireland. Is that a hint?
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Maybe it's for your own protection, Mark? It'll remove the temptation to fritter away your hard-earned cash on yet more snowdrops.
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Pay day comes in time for the Garden House / Gala weekend - Feb 10th ::)
Anyone think Benhall Beauty on Ebay is John Gray?
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Eddie's / Ombersley's Ailwyn is stunning. My plants still only have one mark. One mark or two?
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Eddie's / Ombersley's Ailwyn is stunning. My plants still only have one mark. One mark or two?
How many marks should they have Mark? One mark or two marks, Mark?
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Mark, note and inwardly digest ;D
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just got the answer ..
Ailwyn has two marks when immature and one mark when mature.
If I lift and divide mine this year will I set them back and get two marks? ::)
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Eddie's / Ombersley's Ailwyn is stunning.
Perhaps why it has attracted much stronger bidding than the other Ailwyn currently on sale on eBay?
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I cannot believe that anyone is willing to pay £19.01 for 'Greenish' - that is the current bid on EBay with 2 days to go :o :o :o
I was happy to pay £8
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Where did you get it for £8?
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Sue and Wol have it at £8
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I only have debit cards :-\
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I see that Green Tear is up to £190 with over an hour to go on ebay :o
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Green Tear ending up selling for £300, not quite the £357 paid for E A Bowles but it wasn't being auctioned for charity!!
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It made £320 on eBay last year, so a slight fall in price!
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And now there is a new one up for auction - which I am currently winning with a bid of £1.04.
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Good luck with that Alan :)
It is a slight fall on last year, I wonder if we've seen the peak with snowdrop prices. It does seem to me that some of the more
readily available snowdrop prices are coming down, or is it just wishful thinking on my part?
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what did Green Tear go for?
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what did Green Tear go for?
Read the previous page, Mark! £300
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OK. Just home and excited ::) Anyone got a screen shot?
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OK. Just home and excited ::) Anyone got a screen shot?
Hopefully this link should take you to the right page Mark....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270888269323?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
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At least Green Tear is available. There are plenty of varieties in the "Snowdrops" book that are never heard of eleven years after it was published. :(
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At least Green Tear is available. There are plenty of varieties in the "Snowdrops" book that are never heard of eleven years after it was published. :(
very true.
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yes it would be good to see some if not all those that are in the book even if it is simply to see in a garden or pot
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Green Tear - "Please note as we are the finder of this snowdrop:We are the only one that sell genuine 'Green Tear' bulbs."
That's until the twinscales start to flower in a year or two
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There are plenty of varieties in the "Snowdrops" book that are never heard of eleven years after it was published. :(
Perhaps you should compile a list, Steve, and publish it here if it's not too long. That way we might track a few of them down (though I suspect many are gone for good or, at best, only exist in one person's garden).
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Green Tear - "Please note as we are the finder of this snowdrop:We are the only one that sell genuine 'Green Tear' bulbs."
That's until the twinscales start to flower in a year or two
Put me down for one please Mark ;)
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Because it had stalled at £107 I thought about bidding for it and sending it away for twinning
If only I had one to spare. Whoever bought it last year might have some to sell next year
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There are plenty of varieties in the "Snowdrops" book that are never heard of eleven years after it was published. :(
Perhaps you should compile a list, Steve, and publish it here if it's not too long. That way we might track a few of them down (though I suspect many are gone for good or, at best, only exist in one person's garden).
Alan and Steve
I agree that it might, sadly :'( , be a very long list - but definitely a list that could be worth compiling. ???
I know in a previous year someone has asked if 'Chadwicks Cream' still existed and happily it was possible for members to confirm it had been seen (admittedly in extremely small numbers) alive and well in a garden and looking beautiful. 8)
Pooling SRGC members knowledge of plants that have been seen (or never seen :'( ) could be a very worthwhile process (As long as we keep the gardens we have seen them in secret to save the poor owners of these rarities from being bombarded with requests).
Steve - if you already have - or would be happy to create a list of Galanthus cultivars you have never seen it definitely could be the start of an interesting new thread to see us through the next few months. :)
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There are plenty of varieties in the "Snowdrops" book that are never heard of eleven years after it was published. :(
Perhaps you should compile a list, Steve, and publish it here if it's not too long. That way we might track a few of them down (though I suspect many are gone for good or, at best, only exist in one person's garden).
Alan and Steve
I agree that it might, sadly :'( , be a very long list - but definitely a list that could be worth compiling. ???
I know in a previous year someone has asked if 'Chadwicks Cream' still existed and happily it was possible for members to confirm it had been seen (admittedly in extremely small numbers) alive and well in a garden and looking beautiful. 8)
Pooling SRGC members knowledge of plants that have been seen (or never seen :'( ) could be a very worthwhile process (As long as we keep the gardens we have seen them in secret to save the poor owners of these rarities from being bombarded with requests).
Steve - if you already have - or would be happy to create a list of Galanthus cultivars you have never seen it definitely could be the start of an interesting new thread to see us through the next few months. :)
Oi'll give it a go.
Ebay prices for 2011/12 are within a whisker of 2010/11, taken over a comparison list of fifty varieties.
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So far this season, 88 varieties have been listed on Ebay. That leaves an awful lot that haven't. Incidentally that 88 would be a good deal less without the public spiritness of my friend r o howes. ;)
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I see two plicatus on Ebay are being sold as elwesii
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Is that the two elwesii hybrids 001 &002?
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yes
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Steve i see you have put an EA Bowles on for sale...can't wait to see the white frenzy kick off ;D ;D ;D
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Steve i see you have put an EA Bowles on for sale...can't wait to see the white frenzy kick off ;D ;D ;D
You're mistaken Davey, that's Olly Howes.
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And another Green Tear listed, at £155 at the moment
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Steve i see you have put an EA Bowles on for sale...can't wait to see the white frenzy kick off ;D ;D ;D
You're mistaken Davey, that's Olly Howes.
Oh ok i thought that was Steve cheers Brian for putting me right ;D
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And another Green Tear listed, at £155 at the moment
I'm surprised that Galanthus "Fool's Gold" has not been for sale on Ebay 8) 8) 8)
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What an inspired idea! I have heard a rumour that there is a yellow version of Trym. I'm sure this will be highly sought-after when it goes on sale and Galanthus "Fools Gold" would be such a good name for it.
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Alan - There's a shot of the yellow Trym in Günter's book. It's the last photo on the last page. Looks more like a very light green to me.
johnw
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In which case the name "Fools Gold" might be even more appropriate. But does the fact that it has been published as "Yellow Trym" mean that it is doomed to forever bear that name, even if it isn't yellow?
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It is written: Yellow Trym. All the named ones are written: 'Yellow Trym' in Gunter's book.
So, I think it is not yet named propperly.
Lina.
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Maybe not intentionally, Lina, but (as was discussed on another thread) some very strange rules apply.
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Joe Sharman told me a couple of years ago that he'd raised a yellow version of Trym, so I imagine this is his work.
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Yes ,Joe showed pictures of it at last year's gala I believe
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re: Yellow Trym
It does say "Er wird in den nachsten Jahren in den Handel kommen."
Will be in den Handel = in the trade! - in the next few years. Presumably with whatever name.
johnw
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ill post a photo of the yellow Trym when i get home from work
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Also a new one on me Thrumps
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Thrumps-/160720183710?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item256bab619e
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At Gunter's German event last year Joe Sharmon gave a very interesting visual presentation to the traders one evening (followed by a scrumptious meal ;D and a charity auction 8)). In this Joe talked about his many years of hybridising and back crossing of Galanthus. The Yellow Trym was indeed as a result of his hard work over 2 or 3 decades. 8)
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For anyone thinking of trying to breed their own yellow 'Trym', it will take a while. Because the yellow gene is recessive, when you cross a yellow with 'Trym' the seedlings will all be green-marked. You'll then have to back-cross the seedlings with a yellow again, to hopefully get some yellow 'Trym'-like seedlings in the second generation. Allowing say 5 years from pollination to flowering of seedlings each time, you're easily looking at a decade.
Then of course you have to chip and grow on any good seedling you get, and chip and grow on again to get a reasonable number - say another six years. Then you need to trial and fully evaluate the garden worthiness when you have enough bulbs. Say another few years. John Grimshaw told me that Joe thimks you need about 20 years from pollination to having a new snowdrop ready for the market. From the foregoing, you can easily see that this certainly isn't far off the mark if you need to go through two generations to get interesting yellows. And it's not far off the mark even for single generation crosses if you're talking about trialing and evaluating properly plus building up a large enough stock to distribute it properly, and not just a handful of bulbs for sale a year but enough to satisfy demand.
It's a long-haul business breeding snowdrops!
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A cracking deal to be had here.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SNOWDROP-Galanthus-Spindlestone-Surprise-/260940266834?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item3cc1407d52#ht_500wt_1156 they are selling on there web site for £25
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Not any more!
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Okay, I confess, I bought one. Sorry if I beat you to it, Anne.
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Too good to miss - a bargain from Harvey's is as rare as Hen's teeth :) 8) :)
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Just rec'd my invoice for 'Spindlestone Surprise'
It was a surprise - plant will be sent mid February and will not flower until next year. Does this mean it will be sent after flowering?? or that it is not a flowering size bulb?
The descrition on EBay said This sale is for one bulb, and will be sent out "in the green".
Why wait until February
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Arthur if you are in any doubt then cancel the transactionwith them, because the listing does not say that it will be posted until the end of Feb, it says that delivery will be within 3 days. So they are in breach of their contract with you.
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sounds like twinscales.
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Just e mailed Harveys about Diggory asking them if it will be delivered within 3 days and flower this year.
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Matter is resolved to my total satisfaction :)
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**** me! £360 for Green Tear and a new world record
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I think I will wait untill you have twin scaled it mark ;) ;)
Oh and not sure what those stars mean Mark ;D ;D
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**** me! £360 for Green Tear and a new world record
So £300 was a bargain 8)
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**** me! £360 for Green Tear and a new world record
So £300 was a bargain 8)
Depends whether you get what you paid for and whether you are dealing with honourable people, as we have discussed before. :-\
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Harveys e mailed back very quickly and said i can have the snowdrop now in flower or wait until mid-February as there will be less damage to the plant.
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I had a PM telling me that the "Spindlestone Surprise" that were on sale from Harvey's Garden Plants are young bulbs that will not flower until next year at the earliest. That's a bit disappointing but it's still wasn't a bad price.
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I'm sure on their website, Harveys were selling 'Green Brush' for £25 (:o) a few days ago & £15 on ebay.
Just looked again & Green Brush is now £20 on harveysgardenplants.co.uk.
Most offerings of 'Green Brush' seem to be around £15.
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I'm sure on their website, Harveys were selling 'Green Brush' for £25 (:o) a few days ago & £15 on ebay.
Just looked again & Green Brush is now £20 on harveysgardenplants.co.uk.
Most offerings of 'Green Brush' seem to be around £15.
To be fair to Harveys though Mike they were always selling them at £20 and not £25.
The offerings they have on ebay are cheaper than those for sale on their website so I am assuming that the ebay bulbs are not flowering size, but I could be wrong.
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I don't believe Harvey's are generally noted for their bargain prices or their generosity when it comes to the size of the bulbs they supply. On the other hand they don't hide behind an "alias" when selling on eBay and I am sure they are reputable.
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if they aren't flowering bulbs it should be made clear.
I've sent mature flowering bulbs & received tiny bulbs in return and although they might be what they say they are it's still very irritating, I would never buy anything that hadn't already flowered.
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I must have imagined it Sean, perhaps it was snow blindness 8)
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And E.A. Bowles has just made £215
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At that rate of decrease, I'll be able to afford on in 15 years or so. ::)
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I'd stick with your seed raised cuties, Anne.... they're lovely now and will probably be all over your garden in 15 years time..... 8)
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A very generous lady, who lives up Sheriffmuir, gave me a pot of 'Spindlestone Surprise' inter alia a couple of years ago. 8)
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Have you all noticed how many mistakes there are on Ebay from one seller ?
I bought two snowdrops on Ebay which isnt a surprise but ....
I bought two buy it now. The snowdrop listed didnt match the photo but I liked the one in the photo. They arrived yesterday and I got a different snowdrop.
and very annoying was they werent secure in the package resulting in broken scapes and damaged flowers or maybe s/he bent them over
and lastly I dont recognise the snowdrop
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and lastly I dont recognise the snowdrop
Must be rare and will make your fortune ;D
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Mark, it might be helpful to others to identify the ebay seller in question. What you are saying is that in your opinion the snowdrop supplied did not match the photograph accompanying the listing, the plants arrived somewhat damaged and in your opinion this was because they had been inadequately packaged. I don't see there is anything unreasonable in that (and I would hope your eBay feedback will say as much).
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I bought two snowdrops on Ebay which isnt a surprise
Now we know who has been buying 'Green Tear', #A E Bowles' and all those very expensive drops ;D 8) ;D
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Just a thought and it may have been touched on by others, I assume in many cases wrong photos and wrong names are intentional. If you buy a bulb listed as E.K. Bowles thinking it should have been E.A. Bowles and it didn't match the pic then the judge would throw the case out.
WANBLEBURT RING
GALANTHUS ELWESSI - CAPTAIN BOWLES
GALANTHUS NIVALIS - GREEN NECKLACE
GALANTHUS NIVALIS -BABY ARNOT
Did some mention that fellow down near Stuttgart was at it again on eBay and with a new name?
I would hope potential buyers would at least google these names before purchasing.
On occasion only nivalis and elwesii are on eBay here in Canada but have never bought a thing on eBay.
johnw
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..and if you buy a "Grumpy-looking" snowdrop or something labelled "sandersii" on Ebay from get-rich quick sellers with no provenance, please don't pass them on to others as the genuine thing. There is enough clonal variety in named snowdrops without people introducing mongrel look-alikes.
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It's always possible that a seller might as a deliberately ploy put up a snowdrop for sale with a pic of a much rarer and more desirable snowdrop, hoping that buyers will think they're getting a bargain, that the seller is inadvertently selling something better as something less good by mistake.
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here it is. Anyone know it?
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Its "Turning Left".
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To date this season around 140 snowdrop varieties have been offered for sale on Ebay. Therefore around 1,400 (=90%) have not. Average Ebay prices are 7% down on last year.
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Its "Turning Left".
I saw it as turning right... I suppose that's why I don't drive a car............ ::) :P
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Its "Turning Left".
;D :D ;D
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Is it Galanthus "Ice dance"? ;)
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To date this season around 140 snowdrop varieties have been offered for sale on Ebay. Therefore around 1,400 (=90%) have not. Average Ebay prices are 7% down on last year.
I am afraid that you will have to add 500+ to your figure of 1400 - to date, I count 2000+ named cultivars on my Snowdrop Database and in the past few weeks it has been growing at the rate of 5 to 10 new names each day, which I have come across ::) ::) ::)
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2000+ :o
Are they all alive?
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Are they all necessary? ::) :P ;D
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Are they all necessary? ::) :P ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D :-X
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Are they all necessary? ::) :P ;D
Rather than whining about the dearth of snowdrops over here, I am beginning to hope that you keep most of the 2,000 plus cultivars over there :)---maybe CITES is doing us a favor by keeping all but the best out of the US.
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Are they all necessary?
Of course not, David, but the only system we have for whittling out the inferior ones is the passage of time.
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Are they all necessary?
Of course not, David, but the only system we have for whittling out the inferior ones is the passage of time.
Or the compost heap.
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[/quote]
I am afraid that you will have to add 500+ to your figure of 1400 - to date, I count 2000+ named cultivars on my Snowdrop Database and in the past few weeks it has been growing at the rate of 5 to 10 new names each day, which I have come across ::) ::) ::)
[/quote]
Perhaps things are slowing down then. The Snowdrops book records that two notorious name-attachers "selected" and "named" nearly twenty snowdrops in the course of an afternoon's walk in the country (armed with trowels, bags and labels, as of course we all do for an afternoon's walk in the country).
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This will be interesting to watch,is this Ian selling on ebay?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-woronowii-Elizabeth-Harrison-/290666556815?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43ad13ad8f#ht_500wt_1202
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This will be interesting to watch,is this Ian selling on ebay? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-woronowii-Elizabeth-Harrison-/290666556815?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43ad13ad8f#ht_500wt_1202
Yes, Davey, it is Ian the Christie kind. Elizabeth Harrison has sanctioned the sale.
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Thank you Maggie, was Ian a Sergeant-major in the army?Just curious being ex military myself.I can feel white fever happening with this one.If your reading this Ian good on you.
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Thank you Maggie, was Ian a major in the army?Just curious being ex military myself.I can feel white fever happening with this one.If your reading this Ian good on you.
The Sergeant Major name seems to say so, Davey... but I don't know.... the man himself will likely be around here soon... he'll tell us!
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Thank you Maggie, was Ian a major in the army?Just curious being ex military myself.I can feel white fever happening with this one.If your reading this Ian good on you.
The Sergeant Major name seems to say so, Davey... but I don't know.... the man himself will likely be around here soon... he'll tell us!
This is what i thought,but i also thought John Finch was ex military because he always wear's his camy's(I now know the sad story behind this)
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Very tempted to tell you Ian C. must have been in "Dad's Army", Davey.... but he'll kill me! ;) ;D ;D ;D ::)
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This is what i thought,but i also thought John Finch was ex military because he always wear's his camy's(I now know the sad story behind this)
[/quote]
John wears camy knickers?!!
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Very tempted to tell you Ian C. must have been in "Dad's Army", Davey.... but he'll kill me! ;) ;D ;D ;D ::)
Don't tell him Pike 8)
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This is what i thought,but i also thought John Finch was ex military because he always wear's his camy's(I now know the sad story behind this)
John wears camy knickers?!!
[/quote]Trousers gents ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Very tempted to tell you Ian C. must have been in "Dad's Army", Davey.... but he'll kill me! ;) ;D ;D ;D ::)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Very tempted to tell you Ian C. must have been in "Dad's Army", Davey.... but he'll kill me! ;) ;D ;D ;D ::)
I think you are more close with "I Aint Half Hot Mum" ;D
He knows the Gurkas very well too, thats what he told me! You speak english very well? And if you didn't........
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Very tempted to tell you Ian C. must have been in "Dad's Army", Davey.... but he'll kill me! ;) ;D ;D ;D ::)
I think you are more close with "I Aint Half Hot Mum" ;D
He knows the Gurkas very well too, thats what he told me! You speak brittain very well? And if you didn't........
Ah, that's good, now Ian C will kill Gerard before he kills me!
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I had him on the phone this morning and he does not have the intention to kill both of us, anyway not me before the Gala in 2013! ;D
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I have seen them all in the seventies! Now i do have almost that age he had at that time ;) But i never do shout like he did ;D
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Ah, you have a point there... the sergeant major was younger.... but the soldiers were from the same time ::) ;)
In my battalion the RSM or CSM(Regimental sergeant-major or Company sergeant-major)were gods and run the battalion,never mind officers,the sergeant-major was who we looked up to,we used to call them Scary Monsters because if you saw your sergeant major walking towards you on a friday you ran away as quick as you could because if he passed you and pulled you up for anything(trousers not pressed properly ect)he would give you a weekend guard duty or fine you. :-[ I lost a lot of wages.
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-woronowii-Elizabeth-Harrison-/290667342839?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43ad1fabf7#ht_500wt_1202
I think we may have a new record still nine days to go.
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We have a piss taker in Glasgow selling Mark's Tall and Potter's Prelude. paul777_123 is using a ?nivalis for mine and his/her previous photo of Brian Spence for Potter's Prelude.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/paul777_123/m.html?hash=item2a1955d8f1&item=180813682929&pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&_trksid=p4340.l2562 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/paul777_123/m.html?hash=item2a1955d8f1&item=180813682929&pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&_trksid=p4340.l2562)
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he says he is selling them for a friend who has snowdrops clearly labelled. I don't believe him
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Clearly labelled WRONG.
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As far as I know there is no 'Potter's Prelude', an American snowdrop, in the UK, and if there were this certainly isn't it. See Mark's photo on Galanthus Gallery:http://snowdropinfo.com/galanthus%20elwesii%20Potters%20Prelude.html. Carolyn
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As far as I know there is no 'Potter's Prelude', an American snowdrop, in the UK, and if there were this certainly isn't it. See Mark's photo on Galanthus Gallery:http://snowdropinfo.com/galanthus%20elwesii%20Potters%20Prelude.html. Carolyn
Hi Carolyn,
"Potter's Prelude" is in the UK and mainland Europe. I've shared it with several friends over the past 3 or 4 years - but none have more than a bulb or two; certainly none are offering it on eBay.
Best,
John
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Hello to all, just thought it was time to join in the debate about my age. The ebay seller name came about from my two daughters who at an early age always said I was like a Sergent Major as you can imagine trying to cope with THREE women was very difficult but even now they still call me Sergent Major Christie. I will let you know that I reach a special birthday this year when I become a senior citizen BEWARE anyone who says I am old.
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Hello again, forgot to say I was in the Army as a weekend soldier a part of Her Majesties special forces met many great people like Col Rory Walker. Col Dunphy, and a very special Sgt Major from the Gurkha's who knew no fear but if he liked you it was o/k if not??, This was all a long time ago when I was young and probably a bit mad now do not suggest that I am now fully mad. The Galanthus woronowii sale is for Brian and Elizabeth Harrison it will help them to pay someone to look after the garden which is large they are two very fine people cheers Ian the Christie kind
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I cant believe there are two bids in for the fake snowdrops
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I cant believe there are two bids in for the fake snowdrops
And both bids of exactly the same amount. Maybe the seller trying to kick-start the bidding?
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And at almost the same time!
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Hello to all, just thought it was time to join in the debate about my age. The ebay seller name came about from my two daughters who at an early age always said I was like a Sergent Major as you can imagine trying to cope with THREE women was very difficult but even now they still call me Sergent Major Christie. I will let you know that I reach a special birthday this year when I become a senior citizen BEWARE anyone who says I am old.
Can you imagine how I feel, married with three daughters, I get plenty of names but none are Sergent Major :)
Anyway Ian, don't you know 65 is the new 40, life really begins.....
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Ian working with and being part of the special forces and Gurkhas wow i was in the 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers,i worked with the Gurkhas in the Falklands and they are fantastic soldiers,ultra disciplined and generally lovely chaps to sit down and chat with.There selection (just to get into the army to train to be a Gurkha) is incredible.
I think also it is a lovely thing to be selling that stunning snowdrop on behalf of the Harrisons and i hope it makes them a fortune.
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As far as I know there is no 'Potter's Prelude', an American snowdrop, in the UK, and if there were this certainly isn't it. See Mark's photo on Galanthus Gallery:http://snowdropinfo.com/galanthus%20elwesii%20Potters%20Prelude.html. Carolyn
Hi Carolyn,
"Potter's Prelude" is in the UK and mainland Europe. I've shared it with several friends over the past 3 or 4 years - but none have more than a bulb or two; certainly none are offering it on eBay.
Best,
John
Hi John
Thanks for making that correction. After I wrote my post, I remembered that Matt Bishop had said some nice things about 'Potter's Prelude', but I wasn't sure if he saw it here or there. Several forumists are interested in acquiring it so maybe there is hope, but not on eBay.
Carolyn
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Hi again, thanks for all the comments whatever I am not going to retire just grow old disgracefully knowing so many good friends through this forum keeps my brain active, yes I have one active brain cell left according to my daughter who says that I am at a delicate age I think she means that I am a crabbit old devil cheers Ian the Christie kind
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Finchale Abbey on Ebay is well beyond my pocket. If you are bidding for it and win can I buy a couple of non flowering bulbs from you?
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Ebay baffles me. Why did Finchale go for so much yet Blithe Spirit went for so little ???
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I never even saw those???
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I hope Ian's G. 'Elizabeth Harrison' sets a new record. I think it would be wonderful. Paddy
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I never even saw those???
I have missed them too Mark! What price did they go for?
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A clump of 8 small bulbs of 'Finchale Abbey' went for £137
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Finchale-Abbey-small-clump-/110818248496?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item19cd484730#ht_1612wt_1270
4 bulbs of 'Blithe Spirit' went for £62
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Blithe-Spirit-small-clump-4-bulbs-/110818253792?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item19cd485be0#ht_1324wt_1270
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There must be a snowdrop collector out there to whom money is no object and who can't be bothered to go to sale events or fill out catalogue order forms. My money is on Michael Heseltine.
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My money is on Michael Heseltine.
;D :D ;D
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A clump of 8 small bulbs of 'Finchale Abbey' went for £137
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Finchale-Abbey-small-clump-/110818248496?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item19cd484730#ht_1612wt_1270
4 bulbs of 'Blithe Spirit' went for £62
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Blithe-Spirit-small-clump-4-bulbs-/110818253792?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item19cd485be0#ht_1324wt_1270
Lord, I better dig the front garden up!
Brian
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Barry is extremely generous with his Ebay buyers. I got FA from. Mm, that doesn't look right? He sent me...'Finchale Abbey'. I split the clump in half and swapped them with friends. I still had more than was advertised on Ebay! 8)
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Does anyone know how much 'Kite' ended up selling for on eBay? I can't find the link. Carolyn
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Barry is extremely generous with his Ebay buyers. I got FA from. Mm, that doesn't look right? He sent me...'Finchale Abbey'. I split the clump in half and swapped them with friends. I still had more than was advertised on Ebay! 8)
My experience exactly
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Does anyone know how much 'Kite' ended up selling for on eBay? I can't find the link. Carolyn
£18.11
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALANTHUS-KITE-RARE-SNOWDROP-/180808469224?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item2a19064ae8#ht_500wt_1287
You can find this out in the advanced search feature of ebay. Just to the right of the blue Search button is a small link labelled 'advanced'. Click on this and you get lots of extra search features - one of which is a tick box that says 'Completed Listings'
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Barry is extremely generous with his Ebay buyers. I got FA from. Mm, that doesn't look right? He sent me...'Finchale Abbey'. I split the clump in half and swapped them with friends. I still had more than was advertised on Ebay! 8)
My experience exactly
Sorry, you've lost me here. Barry who? Selling as who on ebay?
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Barrie is 'farmhouse500' on EBay and lives in Norfolk.
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Mark here ...
Marks Tall and Potters Prelude sold. When I last looked mine was at £7.50!!
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Mark here ...
Marks Tall and Potters Prelude sold. When I last looked mine was at £7.50!!
Mark, you can log into your own SRGC forum account on Jo's computer if you click LOGOUT on the bar at the top of the page and log in with your own user name and password.
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Mark, if you or Jo see this can you please tell Joe that I can't make it to the gala so won't need my table for selling books, in case he wants to give the space to another seller. I'm in bed with a bloody awful dose of cold/flu. Sorry to miss everyone. Would have liked to say hello and catch up :(
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Barrie is 'farmhouse500' on EBay and lives in Norfolk.
Thanks, Arthur. I find myself whistling "Love plus one", a hit from the 80s, although maybe "farmhouse500" wasn't quite the name of the group.
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So strange to read your post now Alan.
After collection dust for 20 years I had a mamouth clearout of my old records two weeks ago - and the 'Haircut100 - love plus one' album headed off to the charity shop..... ;D
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I see we're going to have a new record with Elizabeth Harrison at £369 with 5 days still to go :o
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-woronowii-Elizabeth-Harrison-/290667342839?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43ad1fabf7
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I see we're going to have a new record with Elizabeth Harrison at £369 with 5 days still to go :o
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-woronowii-Elizabeth-Harrison-/290667342839?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43ad1fabf7
Wow that's pretty fantastic
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So far 6 bidders have been bidding for it at over £200 so I am sure the price will go up further.
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There must be some rich people out there - that's almost a week in Madeira in my money!
Great that the Harrison's will have the Gardeners wages paid for a good while.
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There must be some rich people out there - that's almost a week in Madeira in my money!
Great that the Harrison's will have the Gardeners wages paid for a good while.
There certainly must be John, as you say a great boost to the Harrisons gardener funds, it is a really beautiful snowdrop, but that price is way above my pay range.
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Just looked at Elizabeth Harrison and it now stands at £369 which I believe has already broken the world record.....with 4 days to go. Well done Ian - will be really interesting to see what it reaches.
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More expensive per ounce than white truffles! :o
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And not as tasty!
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Oh, far more tasty, Alan.
I'm delighted with the record price. One that I feel is well worth it and the cause is very good.
Paddy
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I heartily agree. Seeing a potful was a privilege. 8)
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But I presume the buyer is not planning to cook and eat the bulb!!
Hmm, I wonder if Allium 'Purple Sensation' tastes sensational?
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Just hope that they take great care with it,and not lose it the first year :o :o
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Perhaps it's a New Zealander? ;D
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I think they destroy all bulbs at the customs
even if they cost £369.00 or $566,89 each :o
Roland
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Curious how super markets here are full of imported fruit and veg that doesn't seem to be subjected to the same treatment? :-\
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They have had the same treatment Anthony! Only not living things like antique,cars etc are free. Buy an old cupboard in the Uk and have it filled with lots of bags with dormant bulbs and it will be shipped to your frontdoor! :o
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The treatment given to bulbs would render them inedible. Having imported furniture and a car, I can tell you MAF is quite rightly very thorough. Anything suspect is cleaned and fumigated or destroyed. Fortunately our local inspection depot didn't use a fork lift to inspect under the car!
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Does anyone know how much 'Kite' ended up selling for on eBay? I can't find the link. Carolyn
£18.11
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALANTHUS-KITE-RARE-SNOWDROP-/180808469224?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item2a19064ae8#ht_500wt_1287
You can find this out in the advanced search feature of ebay. Just to the right of the blue Search button is a small link labelled 'advanced'. Click on this and you get lots of extra search features - one of which is a tick box that says 'Completed Listings'
Thanks John. My view of the UK eBay page doesn't look like yours, no advanced search, maybe I have to register with eBay to get the full display. Incidentally 'Kite' was offered again and went for 23.51 and is currently being offered and is at 15 (how do you get your computer to produce pound signs, my keyboard has $, but I know there's a way?). Carolyn
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our keyboards havd $ and £. € is an alt plus number if i remember correctly
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Does anyone know how much 'Kite' ended up selling for on eBay? I can't find the link. Carolyn
£18.11
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALANTHUS-KITE-RARE-SNOWDROP-/180808469224?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item2a19064ae8#ht_500wt_1287
You can find this out in the advanced search feature of ebay. Just to the right of the blue Search button is a small link labelled 'advanced'. Click on this and you get lots of extra search features - one of which is a tick box that says 'Completed Listings'
Thanks John. My view of the UK eBay page doesn't look like yours, no advanced search, maybe I have to register with eBay to get the full display. Incidentally 'Kite' was offered again and went for 23.51 and is currently being offered and is at 15 (how do you get your computer to produce pound signs, my keyboard has $, but I know there's a way?). Carolyn
£ sign - On the numbers pad at the right end of your keyboard hit Num Lock and then the numbers 156 while the Alt key is depressed.
Best,
J.
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I can understand why keyboards in other countries don't have the £ sign, but can anyone explain why some countries don't even have the @ sign on their keyboards. Surely a must for any email address!?
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/plants/9082126/Savour-the-white-gold-of-winter-snowdrops.html
You have to chuckle at this. "The woronowii, known familiarly as Elizabeth Harrison, was discovered in Scotland a few years back and has not been identified anywhere else". ::) This leads to people going out into their garden, and upon finding a yellow woronowii announcing they've found "Elizabeth Harrison". A couple of years back a seller was advertising "Sophie North" on Ebay, because that's what it looked like! :-\
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Here's what John Grimshaw says: http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.co.nz/2011/02/anticlimax.html
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Well Elizabeth Harrison at £530.00 and still 15 minutes to go,highest bidder has zero feedback ,so lets hope they are genuine ,for Ian's sake
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Quite extraordinary! A huge price...... is there a Guiness Book of World Records category for this, do you think?
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£725.10 :o
[attach=1]
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Sold for £725.10 ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
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Blimey I didn't know the oligarchs were buying snowdrops!
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Wow, :o :o :o
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Ian Christie is the seller... best provenance possible.
That should provide for a few hours of gardening services for the owners of the garden from whence it came!!
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Ian Christie is the seller... best provenance possible.
That's the thing, isn't it? Buy with confidence. :)
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Blimey I didn't know the oligarchs were buying snowdrops!
Times are hard for football teams, Brian.... so maybe they fancy diversifying their portfolio ...... ::)
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Heavens to Mergitroid - what a record breaker - I am in shock. I wonder if Ian ever dreamed it would fetch that much??? Wow!
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Well Elizabeth Harrison at £530.00 and still 15 minutes to go,highest bidder has zero feedback ,so lets hope they are genuine ,for Ian's sake
You'd have to have your doubts. Zero feedback and a bid which, from the seller's POV, must look too good to be true. Sadly, when it looks like that, it usually is. Fingers crossed.
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Ian - and the Harrisons - are guaranteed at lweast £705.10 from the second bidder 8)
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Well Elizabeth Harrison at £530.00 and still 15 minutes to go,highest bidder has zero feedback ,so lets hope they are genuine ,for Ian's sake
You'd have to have your doubts. Zero feedback and a bid which, from the seller's POV, must look too good to be true. Sadly, when it looks like that, it usually is. Fingers crossed.
I noticed it was a newbie but even if that fell through he could give a Second Chance offer to the next bidder down and would still get £705 which is pretty darn good ;)
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Shocked :o
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I was with some non snowdrop friends during the final 15 mins and suggested we watched it while having a drink.
I am sure you can imagine the kind of things that were said in the final moments! ;D
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Ian - and the Harrisons - are guaranteed at lweast £705.10 from the second bidder 8)
I hope so, but there's no guarantee. The underbidder has no obligation once the auction has closed. The winner bid at a number of points along the way - which could reflect a genuine desire to buy it, or could be his way of steadily inflating the price. A second chance offer would be the best thing for Ian to try, but the underbidder could perfectly well feel he'd got carried away and decide not to go for it.
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Well done Ian !! (and the Harrisons ! ;))
I suggest Ian carries it to its new home for this price... wouldn't want it to get lost in the mail ;D
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More brass than wit some folk obviously ::)
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John Grimshaw seems to have been struck almost speechless....
http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/ At the moment there is a photo, and a bare sentence, then..... nothing!
"In an Ebay auction that ended this afternoon, a bulb of Galanthus woronowii 'Elizabeth Harrison' was sold for £725.10, by a vendor in Scotland. This
Posted by John Grimshaw at 18:05 1 comment
:)
And who is the comment from?
Emma Thick Feb 16, 2012
" they have just got to keep it alive now !!!! " ;)
edit later : John has recovered his composure.... or the page has now loaded properly.... his comments are now complete :)
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;D i get every where !
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Emma: a case of have great headgear, will travel..... ;) ;D
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I told the group I gave a tour to today I thought a bulb would break the £400 barrier, but that's just crazy :o
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/plants/9082126/Savour-the-white-gold-of-winter-snowdrops.html
from the other day
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The snowdrop gives me chilblains, only to look at it… Was there ever such an icy, inhuman, bloodless flower, crystallised winter in three gleaming petals and a green-flecked cup?”
what a cheerful chap, must have been a bundle of laughs ;D
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Hello everyone, I am like your selves gobsmacked with this incredible price just could hardly believe it and within an hour of the final bid the payment was sent to me astonishing will have to have several large drams to calm down, thank you all, cheers Ian the Christie kind ( I am still not retiring)
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Ian, it was better than any TV that I have watched lately. I enjoyed watching it, what a ending. You might deed to drink the whole bottle to calm down.
Angie :)
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Ian,
I am delighted for you and the Harrisons.
Of course, there was a bit of fun watching the price and wondering where it would end but there was also the aspect that this auction was one with a good cause at its heart and so we all hoped it would do well and, my goodness, it certainly has done well.
Congratulations.
Paddy
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The question now is
How fast can the buyer from this single one
make 1000 new ones
sell them for £20 each
and make £20.000
Roland
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I have a beautiful G.nivalis flowering at the moment. Would be willing to swap an offset for offset of 'Elizabeth Harrison'. You pay postage of course.
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A red one of-course
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102136/Green-Tear-snowdrop-looks-glum-rival-Scottish-Elizabeth-Harrison-expensive-bulb-sold.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Note the picture of 'Green Tear' which isn't!
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How fast can the buyer from this single one
make 1000 new ones
If you were really good at twin-scaling you might have 10 flowering size bulbs by 2015, 100 by 2018 and 1000 by 2021. Whether you could sell 1000 bulbs is debatable.
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I note that John G. says that woronowii does not respond well to chipping.
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I was thinking theoretical of bringing them on in vitro
probably you can do that in 3-4 years
cost £1 each
I don't know how many real snowdrop fans there are
but more as you think probably all over the world
maybe large companies as Thompson & Morgan see money in it
and multiply them by the thousands
Roland
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Hello everyone, I am like your selves gobsmacked with this incredible price just could hardly believe it and within an hour of the final bid the payment was sent to me astonishing will have to have several large drams to calm down, thank you all, cheers Ian the Christie kind ( I am still not retiring)
Then make that £725.10 - £100 (for the bottle +deposit) = £625.10 ;)
johnw
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By all accounts the last time a big commercial company got hold of a rare yellow snowdrop was when Wendy's Gold was new. And then the entire stock was lost to botrytis. But imagine things had gone differently and you could buy Wendy's Gold in your local garden centre now. I cannot imagine it selling for more than £2 per bulb. You would buy a little pot of three and, being still relatively rare, it would cost a few times the price of a pot of tête-a-tête daffodils.
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Sure with a good advertisement (and they know how to do)
such as "brand new spotted yellow snowdrop"
they can make lots more as £2
sure Me alone (I am a small company) can sell 1000 Elizabeth Harrison in one season for more as £2 each
Roland
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John Grimshaw seems to have been struck almost speechless....
'Elizabeth Harrison' was sold for £725.10, by a vendor in Scotland. This is more than twice the previous record of £369
His maths is a bit dodgy as well ;D
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But imagine things had gone differently and you could buy Wendy's Gold in your local garden centre now. I cannot imagine it selling for more than £2 per bulb.
Wendy's Gold is being micropropped in a Belfast lab. In 2008 I went to have a look. 100s of tubs in computer controlled cabinets with multiple bulbs in each. These were being grown for a Dutch supplier
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But imagine things had gone differently and you could buy Wendy's Gold in your local garden centre now. I cannot imagine it selling for more than £2 per bulb.
Wendy's Gold is being micropropped in a Belfast lab. In 2008 I went to have a look. 100s of tubs in computer controlled cabinets with multiple bulbs in each. These were being grown for a Dutch supplier
I remember you showing this Mark. Any idea how it's going now? The proof of the pudding will be whether they respond well to micropropping, flowering true. I can't recall if I've read about snowdrop microprop attempts before not working well. Maybe I'm imagining it. They do tend to have wobbly genes, which might not work well with micropropagation. But if micropropping is working well with galanthus then that could save me a lot of work with my best seedlings :)
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Martin I keep forgetting to contact the lab so I can go down for a look
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Ian - and the Harrisons - are guaranteed at least £705.10 from the second bidder 8)
...and so on. I sold 5 plants this way a year or so ago, as even the fifth highest bidder was beyond my expectations.
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I am really pleased for Elizabeth Harrison, it will help an awful lot in the garden.
I am also pleasantly amused by the vast amount of mis-information given in the Mail, Telegraph and Express online. It makes you wonder what they are going to come up with next!
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Martin I keep forgetting to contact the lab so I can go down for a look
Go on Mark, we would all be interested to hear about it.
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Hello everyone, I am like your selves gobsmacked with this incredible price just could hardly believe it and within an hour of the final bid the payment was sent to me astonishing will have to have several large drams to calm down, thank you all, cheers Ian the Christie kind ( I am still not retiring)
Then make that £725.10 - £100 (for the bottle +deposit) = £625.10 ;)
johnw
Deposit?
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Alan an email has been sent.
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Well done to everyone involved with the ebay sale of 'Elizabeth Harrison' ;D
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... But imagine things had gone differently and you could buy Wendy's Gold in your local garden centre now. I cannot imagine it selling for more than £2 per bulb. You would buy a little pot of three and, being still relatively rare, it would cost a few times the price of a pot of tête-a-tête daffodils.
WG was for sale early last year in a well-known nursery in England, 3-5 bulbs in a pot for £3.
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Did you buy any Ashley?
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I did indeed Mike, and other things too.
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John Grimshaw seems to have been struck almost speechless....
'Elizabeth Harrison' was sold for £725.10, by a vendor in Scotland. This is more than twice the previous record of £369
His maths is a bit dodgy as well ;D
;D ;D ;D
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That was an amazing bargain Ashley, well done for spotting it.
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What nursery Ashley?
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Unfortunately no longer in business Mark. Not due to fair pricing though; the owner has retired.
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So it was a closing down sale, eh Ashley?
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Maybe a bit cynical Alan ;)
No I don't think so. I was there 8-10 months before it closed, and the owner was clearly more interested in plants than big profits.
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Spotted this on another site: Thompson and Morgan buy G. 'Elizabeth Harrison'
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/worlds-highest-price-paid-for-snowdrop-bulb?source=socialtw&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=spring2012&utm_content=world
Paddy
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Och... they're going to try and tissue culture it! Takes the 'romance' of it away...
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£50,000 for a hyacinth. I missed that. ??? ??? ??? ???
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£50,000 for a hyacinth. I missed that. ??? ??? ??? ???
Would you have out bid it? ;D
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:-\ :-\ :-\
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Spotted this on another site: Thompson and Morgan buy G. 'Elizabeth Harrison'
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/worlds-highest-price-paid-for-snowdrop-bulb?source=socialtw&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=spring2012&utm_content=world
Paddy
Well I guess you can take their interest as a kind of compliment for a truly beautiful snowdrop. Judging by the previous experience (Black Hyacinth) it's going to be a number of years before this snowdrop will become commercially available so I'm sure the Harrisons will still have plenty of opportunities to be able to sell their stock for the upkeep of their garden.
If the tissue culture cultivation is successful and these come true then it would surely guarantee the longevity of this wonderful snowdrop and the name of Elizabeth Harrison.
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I knew T&M had bought the Elizabeth Harrison but was asked to say nothing :-X Then they blew their own cover
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I knew T&M had bought the Elizabeth Harrison but was asked to say nothing :-X Then they blew their own cover
They handled the publicity better than you would have Mark ;D
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After sitting on the news for a while I told two people to be honest. One candidly and one got the news.
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I knew T&M had bought the Elizabeth Harrison but was asked to say nothing
Oh Mark, think of the fun you could have had breaking the news!
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I know but they might have stopped buying photos off me.
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...........instead of using Sandersii pics. I despair! ::)
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I think I hit the bulled 8)
Roland
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Well Elizabeth Harrison ,and Joe Sharman made the Look East News this evening,not good news I fear,having already lost a clump of Jessica from our front garden in the past >:(,it will no doubt not be the last time that these little plants go missing :( :( :(
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My local paper want an interview with me. I havent told them yes or no.
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My local paper want an interview with me. I havent told them yes or no.
If they're paying do it, if not recommend someone else ;D
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I was once contacted by a butterfly breeder in England to help Gordon Beningfield take photographs of the chequered skipper butterfly (Carterocephalus palaemon), which is the only Scottish butterfly not found in England. The nearest are on the north shore of Loch Etive. I mentioned it to a butterfly friend and only found out GB had been up after he been, stayed with said friend, photographed the butterfllies and gone home again.
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I don't believe Harvey's are generally noted for their bargain prices or their generosity when it comes to the size of the bulbs they supply. On the other hand they don't hide behind an "alias" when selling on eBay and I am sure they are reputable.
I have to completely eat the negative words I wrote on 24th January. I just collected my Spindlestone Surprise from Roger Harvey's nursery and it was a most excellent specimen with five leaves and a flower. Thanks to Harveys and to Daveyp1970 for bringing this eBay bargain to my attention.
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I wonder if they were concerned that more people might reject them as I did - sight unseen in my case and before a penny was paid.
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This was a "buy it now" offer via eBay with quite a few on sale. Obviously I cannot vouch for any of the other examples sold, but mine was very good indeed. Arthur, you could not have failed to be satisfied if you had received the specimen I got.
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Alan
I was told they were not flowering size and would not be sent for weeks - on EBay delivery time was 3 days. "What did I expect for bulbs that were much less than their normal price?"
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Yes, Arthur, we seem to have had very different experiences with the same purchase from the same vendor. You asked for details of what you would get and when you would get it and you were put off by the negative response. I didn't ask questions and was happy to collect my purchase in person some weeks after the auction and the result was very positive. ???
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Alan
It is a little too far to go to collect ;D
I was worried that my existing pot of Spindlestone Surprise was in trouble and investigated - it was. Whilst there was a healthy set of roots, the bulb looked like it had been pickled - good with cheese? What could have caused this?
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Quote from Ebay
i am no expert on galanthus, but
studying various sites and pictures
on the internet i believe this to be a
hoverfly
looks like an elwesii to me
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Quote from Ebay
i am no expert on galanthus, but
studying various sites and pictures
on the internet i believe this to be a
hoverfly
looks like an elwesii to me
???
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-snowdrop-hoverfly-green-/280830545268?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item4162ce0d74 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-snowdrop-hoverfly-green-/280830545268?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item4162ce0d74)
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"What did I expect for bulbs that were much less than their normal price?"
I would expect them to state exactly what they were, certainly wouldn't buy from anyone who sent that sort of reply to a query.
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The full quote from eBay is:
i am no expert on galanthus, but
studying various sites and pictures
on the internet i believe this to be a
hoverfly
please correct me if i am wrong.
So did you, Mark?
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Well, reading what's not there, I guess 'Hoverfly' is not elwesii, but can't find that info on any website. I think the point must be emphasised that you can't look at a snowdrop and then look at pictures and say it must be "X", because it ain't unless you got it as such, and even then it may not be.
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You can't look at a snowdrop and then looks at pictures and say it must be "X", because it ain't unless you got it as such, and even then it may not be.
That comment exactly reflects my own feelings, Anthony. So much so, in fact, that I think it would be nice to have it as a banner heading for the Galanthus section of the forum.
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Yes I did say but no answer so far
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the reply ...
hi mark, do you live near ipswich by any chance,
if so would love you to come and identify my
snowdrops have 6 different types, which will be
put on here in the next couple of days, and been
has i am only starting them at a 1.00 it is up to
the individual whether or not to take the chance.
thank you for your feedback, much appreciated.
best wishes
sharone
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The only way to identify snowdrops is to read the label and then check the plant matches the label, otherwise people will just wander into a wood and, on a good day, could collect a specimen of every variety of Galanthus nivalis in Bishop, Davis and Grimshaw and think "that's the way to do it" (I think that's called a Punch line).
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Quote from Ebay
i am no expert on galanthus, but
studying various sites and pictures
on the internet i believe this to be a
hoverfly
looks like an elwesii to me
Mark - the last time this lady listed this snowdrop I mailed her and told her it was wrong. I sent her a photo of what Hoverfly should look like and she accepted it was wrong....now she is listing it again ??? I told her that she cannot just look through photos and decide what they are as experts cannot even do that. Talk about a waste of time mailing her.
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Dont know this lady Jennie, so cannot comment but I would say to all members that there are a number of 'experts' around who will tell you what a plant is from a photograph. Well maybe ...maybe not!!! be careful and dont rush one way or another. All plants, and animals, change appearance etc. as they grow and mature. They are 3d things that need to be appraised over a period of time. Judging from a 2d photo is very very difficult. I have learned the hard way that very often the key to a plants name can be traced only through its provenance. If the origins cannot be traced then a definitive id is difficult to say the least. They are still beautiful though.... ;D ;D ;D
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The good thing from pictures
you almost certain can tell that a specific Galanthus is wrong named
I think lots of Galanthus don't deserve a name :o
life would be much easier if there where just a few hundred serious named ones
I can name over 1000 G. elwesii var monostictus
but most are lookalikes
so why name them ;)
who is naming (and accepting) names
if you can't recognise them
sounds for me stupid
Roland
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRUMPY-Snowdrop-bulbs-collectors-/230752087638?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item35b9e56e56#ht_500wt_1202
They are really taking the mickey now ;D ;D ;D
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A fool and their money are.. etc...etc, :( :(
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Must be a joke
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I think it's rather a good joke; really a warning against paying a lot of money for nothing in particular.
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...yet I wouldn't be surprised if someone buys it ::)
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I recently purchased a snowdrop as viridapice.
I am very happy with it as nice sized bulb and good roots and does indeed have nice green outer petal marks and nivalis type leaves.
However.... it has a split spathe. It really looks like Scharlockii. Do any of the many forms of viridapice have split spathes, or does the double "donkey ear" spathe mean it must be something else? It also has a very long pedicle.
I can take a better picture tomorrow if that would help, this one doesnt show the spathe. Hoping someone will know.
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Looks like a normal elwesii to me Hee Heee
Plus Grumpy seems to cost about £20 to £30 anyway.....
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Simon Viridapice has a noticeably large spathe, I'm not sure that it splits though, I've only just got mine so will have to nip out and have another look.
Just been out to look and the largest bulb has a spathe that is translucent in the centre, but not split like 'Charlotte Jean' and the Galanthus nivalis 'Scharlockii'.
Davey posted a picture here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8483.msg233518#msg233518
they don't appear to have split spathes, it could be as the spathe ages? Someone intelligent will know I'm sure.
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Warei
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRUMPY-Snowdrop-bulbs-collectors-/230752087638?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item35b9e56e56#ht_500wt_1202
They are really taking the mickey now ;D ;D ;D
As mentioned on Look East TV program, rare snowdrops have been found and sold. This variety have been found in my garden and I am wiling to sell the 3 bulbs on.
As soon as payment is made these can be posted on by Special Delivery.
Surprise
This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available ;D ;D
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Mark
Thank you, I think you got it.
This really does look like it is warei as has a very large spathe. This photo clearly shows it has split. The long pedicle also seems right for warei. I like this drop.
Simon
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRUMPY-Snowdrop-bulbs-collectors-/230752087638?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item35b9e56e56#ht_500wt_1202
They are really taking the mickey now ;D ;D ;D
As mentioned on Look East TV program, rare snowdrops have been found and sold. This variety have been found in my garden and I am wiling to sell the 3 bulbs on.
As soon as payment is made these can be posted on by Special Delivery.
Surprise
This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available ;D ;D
I wonder if it is no longer available because of a "question" I put to the seller on Ebay?
"Dear jden8887,
You say you found it in your garden? You can't find a named snowdrop. You can only buy it labelled as such from a reliable source. If it wasn't originally bought as a genuine "Grumpy" it is just a look alike and worth about 50p."
-
.
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Has Roland just outed himself? ;D 8) ;D
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If that's what did it then thank goodness!
If you ask a seller a question can all other signed in Ebayers see it or only the person who asked it and the seller?
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well done Anthony.
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It's me in my young days
(http://serve.mysmiley.net/jumping/jumping0041.gif)
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Fewer teeth or less hair?
-
.
-
.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D that fair made laugh
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Kallie, only the seller can see the question
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Thanks Mark. It's a shame though as it would help warn buyers.
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Kallie, only the seller can see the question
I think in some cases in ebay it is possible to both see questions asked and the seller's reply. I suppose that it depends if the question is asked directly to the seller or through the specific questioning method... in ongoing auctions it is possible to see some queries listed.... and perhaps the seller allows it??
Perhaps it is only questions such as "what size is the hat?" that are open to view :-\
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It is up to the seller to allow or not whether the questions/answers are posted for viewing.
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This persons selling a normal green nivalis as sandersii.Its got green ovaries. >:(
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Nivalis-Sandersii-Yellow-Snowdrop-green-/190645959680?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item2c63627c00#ht_500wt_1202
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.
Fewer teeth then.
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This persons selling a normal green nivalis as sandersii.Its got green ovaries. >:(
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-Nivalis-Sandersii-Yellow-Snowdrop-green-/190645959680?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item2c63627c00#ht_500wt_1202
I also noticed that its ridiculous they are getting away with this, on the other hand I am watching a very nice snowdrop it is unnamed on ebay but "I Think" I know what it is. ;) ;D
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In the link above the chap has now changed his mind hes changed it to he thinks its blonde inge(even though the only reason the inner mark is yellow is because the flower is going over),he will change to south hayes next ;D ;D ;D
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Stuart that guy says an expert told him the Sandersii is Blonde Inge
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Stuart that guy says an expert told him the Sandersii is Blonde Inge
Hi Mark,
It looks to me as though its had too much sun and its turned it yellow not that I'm that knowledgeable, I just wish I was able to buy on eBay confidently as my collection is very limited and I don't drive which restricts me getting to certain shows and events. :(
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yes flowers that are going over can act strange
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I just wish I was able to buy on eBay confidently
Harvey's garden plants is a reputable nursery and sells under their own name on eBay.
Mr O Howes on eBay is a front for Monksilver Nursery, again reputable.
Farmhouse500 is Barry Carson-Turner. I don't know this man myself but others on this forum have praised him as a seller.
I'm sure there are many others, including several forum contributors, but I cannot remember their eBay identities. Quite a lot of nurseries that sell snowdrops sell mail-order as well as via eBay.
On the other hand, there are people on eBay who don't understand the difference between a named snowdrop cultivar and something they found in their garden and a few who set out to deceive by passing-off a cheap snowdrop as an expensive one.
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or a dyed one :(
Roland
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'zinniapop' (Jennifer Yeadon) - is another excellent source of snowdrops - what you see is what you get.
'ombersleyplants' - another excellent source of snowdrops. You can buy with confidence from him.
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Perhaps " recommended by members the SRGC Forum" could be a selling point?
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Perhaps " recommended by members the SRGC Forum" could be a selling point?
It could, Anthony... if the recommendation was on the pages here.... otherwise I suspect there could be rogues using that in their adverts in as false a way as they claim fake 'drops! :'(
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Perhaps " recommended by members the SRGC Forum" could be a selling point?
It could, Anthony... if the recommendation was on the pages here.... otherwise I suspect there could be rogues using that in their adverts in as false a way as they claim fake 'drops! :'(
Totally agree Maggi - if I found such a wording on an EBay lot I would report it to EBay.
Giving advice to forum members and lurkers about sellers who have proven to be excellent is the purpose of mentioning them here. They get feedback from the buyers and the good ones will receive feedback in line with the comments we have made.
People don't always read the Feedback comments - they should
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False statements soon come back to bite the sellers on the bum.
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False statements soon come back to bite the sellers on the bum.
But often not fast enough to save folks from being rooked. :P
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And oh how they keep coming ,we now have a Mr Grumpy and Alien Face,whatever next, it will certainly mess the snowdrop scene up if all these so called Grumpy's get sold on and on and on,and all because they have seen it on the TV and News
I did have a chat with Joe Sharman a couple of years ago and suggested that some sort of regulation be placed on the naming of drops ,such as some kind of regulative commitee to look to see if a drop was worthy of naming,good idea or not I do not know ,but at least questions could be asked to the e bay sellers as to whether or not their snowdrop had been registered which maybe would put off some of the more dubious people out there
Anyone have any other thoughts?
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What sort of snowdrop do forumists thing this is........?????????
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-snowdrop-/290674915403?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43ad93384b
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Galanthus elwesii? I have sent a question: "It's not 'Hoverfly' unless you bought it as such. You CANNOT "find" a named snowdrop varieties in your garden. ALL NAMED SNOWDROPS COME FROM CLONES THAT HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AND REGISTERED by a snowdrop grower. If you can't trace it back to the original named clone, regardless of how close it looks, it isn't that variety. It's a imitation worth about 50p. You can call it what you like, but not a named clonal variety. That's the equivalent of selling fake copies of a Picasso painting."
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I wonder if we are getting a bit too caught up in the misdemeanors here, when it is the crimes we ought to worry about?
If somebody finds a snowdrop with some funny marking and offers it as such on eBay (e.g. "alien face snowdrop") I see nothing wrong with that.
And it doesn't take a lot of snowdrop knowledge to know that a snowdrop you find in your garden that vaguely resembles a named snowdrop is not that named snowdrop. So "possibly hoverfly" is not possibly hoverfly and more fool anyone who buys it as such hoping to get hoverfly.
What we need to be on a guards for is people setting out to deceive, deliberately selling one snowdrop as another. Don't sweat the small stuff.
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Galanthus elwesii? I have sent a question: "It's not 'Hoverfly' unless you bought it as such.
This is at least the third time she has been told, but as I said "...but someone will buy it." Let them. No real collector will fall for this, and it really is a case of buyer beware. It doesn't seem as though anything else can be done. As Alan says:
So "possibly hoverfly" is not possibly hoverfly and more fool anyone who buys it as such hoping to get hoverfly.
It's those trying to make a quick buck pretending to sell the rarities that are the real worry.
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ALL NAMED SNOWDROPS COME FROM CLONES THAT HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AND REGISTERED by a snowdrop grower.
Although I agree with the sentiment, I didn't realise there is register of snowdrop varieties, as there is for narcissus. Is there one, and how does one register a plant with it?
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Although I agree with the sentiment, I didn't realise there is register of snowdrop varieties, as there is for narcissus. Is there one, and how does one register a plant with it?
pm Gerard, he voluntered to help people last year.
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another reply
Hi,I appreciate your comments but I have to disagree, although I haven't personally bought 'Blonde Inge' myself my woodland was once owned by someone who had a passion for flowers, many different species were planted over the years. Over time labels were lost so I have no idea exactly what is what. I am clear in my ad that I'm not certain it is 'Blonde Inge' and have listed it as a yellow petal snowdrop but it definitely looks like the picture on the link I provided.You seem to have more knowledge of snowdrops than me, if you can you please identify it from my pictures I will happily revise my listing?Kind Regards- mrbmoon1
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another reply
Hi,I appreciate your comments but I have to disagree, although I haven't personally bought 'Blonde Inge' myself my woodland was once owned by someone who had a passion for flowers, many different species were planted over the years. Over time labels were lost so I have no idea exactly what is what. I am clear in my ad that I'm not certain it is 'Blonde Inge' and have listed it as a yellow petal snowdrop but it definitely looks like the picture on the link I provided.You seem to have more knowledge of snowdrops than me, if you can you please identify it from my pictures I will happily revise my listing?Kind Regards- mrbmoon1
Mark at the end of the day if they can put a name to it they are quids in,even loosely to look like a known drop,but well done for getting on to him.
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Although I agree with the sentiment, I didn't realise there is register of snowdrop varieties, as there is for narcissus. Is there one, and how does one register a plant with it?
pm Gerard, he voluntered to help people last year.
It might be useful if Gerard posted a link again to the register so we can see how it's coming on with regard to the registration of existing cultivars.
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Anne, here's the link to a thread from last year where the galanthus registration authority issue was discussed at some length.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6885.60
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Gerard gave the Galanthus registrar details again earlier this month:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8571.msg230084#msg230084
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Thanks Maggi. I meant a link to the actual register so we can see how it's coming on.
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I just started looking into Galanthus, I really like them, they're cute to say the least but WHY in the world are there so many named varieties? How can you possibly keep track of all that and know what you're growing is correct if you can find other snowdrops that could pass for the other?
I really like them and I think I'm going to start growing them but WOW is this all confusing!? :) This e-bay thread has deterred me from using auction sites, well at least until I know what I'm doing!
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WHY in the world are there so many named varieties?
Why are there so many named daffodils! They are all yellow LOL ;D
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WHY in the world are there so many named varieties?
Why are there so many named daffodils! They are all yellow LOL ;D
Touche ;D :D :)
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I do have an addiction to yellow :D
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Amen Mark!
I love both Narcissus and Galanthus, I just wish it were a bit easier for a novice like me with plants with a large incidence for dishonesty! That's why I have you guys, right? :)
I think I'm going to stick with mail order nurseries for now, e-bay seems a bit scary and I really appreciate this thread.
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WHY in the world are there so many named varieties?
Why are there so many named daffodils! They are all yellow LOL ;D
Touche ;D :D :)
Maybe there are also tooooooo many named Daffodils
Tulips , Lilies and so on
But if a specialist can't say (or find out) what the name is
there is something serous wrong
Roland
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The vast majority of snowdrops don't have a name and don't come true from seed. So if you own named snowdrops it is very important you label them, keep track of where they are and either remove the seed heads or weed out the seedlings. A specialist presented with a snowdrop for identification could certainly say if it resembles a named cultivar but with snowdrops provenance is all-important.
If you are Joe Schmoe selling on eBay you should be able to say something like: "For sale 'Blonde Minger', a bulb from stock I originally bought from The Small Snowdrop Company in 2005". If you are buying on eBay you should be looking for something like this.
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very true Alan.
Josh I dont know what country you are in but by far the best snowdrop suppliers in the UK are Avon Bulbs and Wol & Sue Staines who sell pot grown bulbs. I think Colesbourne now have pot grown but they dont do mail order.
Others may know who sells pot grown snowdrops
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I've just ordered some snowdrops from Plants for Shade and they came really quickly and are in great condition - bearing in mind they're just going over! They're nothing fancy - S. Arnott, Magnet and White Swan but I got 3 or 4 extra!
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WHY in the world are there so many named varieties?
Why are there so many named daffodils! They are all yellow LOL ;D
Touche ;D :D :)
Maybe there are also tooooooo many named Daffodils
Tulips , Lilies and so on
But if a specialist can't say (or find out) what the name is
there is something serous wrong
Roland
Roland,
I agree, it makes it really difficult if a plant can't be surely ID'd, it makes it seem as if you're only buy the name?
Mark, I live in the US, I was chat with these companies about sending to the US with a permit ;)
Josh
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Has anyone dealt with 'mrbmoon1'?
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Has anyone dealt with 'mrbmoon1'?
Art i would be weary he changes the names of his snowdrops so he doesn't no for sure what he's selling.
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Elizabeth Harrison - the snowdrop - appears on Alan Titchmarsh's programme beside John Grimshaw
http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=310017 (http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=310017) UK viewers only
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Thanks Mark. Fortunately for me, the feature on 'Elizabeth Harrison' is right at the start of the show so I had the minimum exposure to Alan Titmarsh.
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Does anyone think Elizabeth is very upright for a woronowii? I only have woronowii and w. coll. EK Balls which have arching leaves.
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Elizabeth Harrison - the snowdrop - appears on Alan Titchmarsh's programme beside John Grimshaw
http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=310017 (http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=310017) UK viewers only
Couple of screen grabs......
right to left .....Alan Titchmarsh, Michael Perry (from T&M who bought the snowdrop) John Grimshaw, Matthew Pottage from Wisley
[attach=1]
Talking about G. 'Elizabeth Harrison'
[attach=2]
to the left of the shot...A three-eared un-named green galanthus, shown by John Grimshaw
[attach=3]
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From the PBS yesterday
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120869376710 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120869376710)
A Colchicum speciosum on Ebay with an option to buy now and pay later. I'm off to buy Green Tear and Elizabeth Harrison ;D
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The Elizabeth Harrison is payee 10 ++++++ times already
free advertisement for ??? minutes ;D
They aren't stupid at T&M :o
Roland
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Whenever I see Alan Titchmarsh's mug shot as I enter B&Q I think .....TART!!
Has he ever seen the inside of a B&Q 'plant concentration camp'?
Plants left on trolleys for days unwatered, hardly any headroom above them so not enough daylight.
Very depressing for plant lovers like us. :(
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It annoys the hell out of me Mike, why can't they employ people in these places that have a basic understanding that plants can't survive without water and how to use a hosepipe properly. The number of times I've seen plants having their leaves sprayed and the person doing the watering thinks that's a good job and then moves on to wet the leaves of the next set of plants (leaving the compost completely bone dry)!!! >:(
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I don't know Sean....... mind you the horrible cold, shady, soul destroying plant concentration camp at my local B&Q would unhinge any plant lover to the point they would climb the 20ft stack'em high racks & impale themselves on the equally high security fencing. :'(
Like I say Titchy's a TART!!
Sold himself out to the likes of B&Q.
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It annoys the hell out of me Mike, why can't they employ people in these places that have a basic understanding that plants can't survive without water and how to use a hosepipe properly. The number of times I've seen plants having their leaves sprayed and the person doing the watering thinks that's a good job and then moves on to wet the leaves of the next set of plants (leaving the compost completely bone dry)!!! >:(
As a local nursery owner, I can't resist responding. It is much cheaper for them to throw the plants away than it is to take care of them in the store. This is true at all levels of plant production for big box stores, which I assume this is. If you are appalled by how the plants are kept in the store, it is even worse before they get there. In the US at least, these plants are produced by underpaid workers in squalid conditions spraying chemicals wantonly without adequate protection and with profligate water use. Plants are thrown away at all levels. A friend who worked in one of these places calls it the "dark underbelly of horticulture".
And yet I can't tell you how many times I read about the deal that some gardener just got at the local big box store and how everyone should shop there. And the reverse, even on this forum, how shocking the prices are at a local nursery. When you shop at big box stores you are supporting this kind of approach to horticulture. Local nurseries care for their plants and are knowledgeable about what they sell, and none of them are getting rich in the process. Not only do I care about quality at my nursery, I can't afford to throw any plant away. You get what you pay for and your purchases are what drive the market. I will now get down off my soapbox.
Carolyn
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100% behind you Carolyn, ;).
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I was a prison warden in the plant area of a local B&Q :o
One day while watering plants the store manager shouted "havent you got anything better to do?"
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It annoys the hell out of me Mike, why can't they employ people in these places that have a basic understanding that plants can't survive without water and how to use a hosepipe properly. The number of times I've seen plants having their leaves sprayed and the person doing the watering thinks that's a good job and then moves on to wet the leaves of the next set of plants (leaving the compost completely bone dry)!!! >:(
As a local nursery owner, I can't resist responding. It is much cheaper for them to throw the plants away than it is to take care of them in the store. This is true at all levels of plant production for big box stores, which I assume this is. If you are appalled by how the plants are kept in the store, it is even worse before they get there. In the US at least, these plants are produced by underpaid workers in squalid conditions spraying chemicals wantonly without adequate protection and with profligate water use. Plants are thrown away at all levels. A friend who worked in one of these places calls it the "dark underbelly of horticulture".
And yet I can't tell you how many times I read about the deal that some gardener just got at the local big box store and how everyone should shop there. And the reverse, even on this forum, how shocking the prices are at a local nursery. When you shop at big box stores you are supporting this kind of approach to horticulture. Local nurseries care for their plants and are knowledgeable about what they sell, and none of them are getting rich in the process. Not only do I care about quality at my nursery, I can't afford to throw any plant away. You get what you pay for and your purchases are what drive the market. I will now get down off my soapbox.
Carolyn
I don't want to get into a debate about the ethics behind mass produced plants sold at places like B&Q and plants sold by nurseries like your own Carolyn ,but do I think there is a place in the market for both to be honest. Just as in any marketplace there are people who will pay for quality and those that want (or maybe can't afford to spend alot) a cheaper alternative. If being able to buy a cheap lot of bedding plants from a local DIY centre encourages people to take an interest in gardening then so be it. You never know, it may inspire them onto growing other things.
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In the US "Big Box Stores" [BBS] are the same as "DYI". In the US BBSs do not pay their vendors for the plants they have until the plant is purchased at the cash register. Thus no incentive to care for the plants. The vendor absorbs the loss, not the BBS which doesn't even own the plant. There are people in BBSs who care about plants, but they are few and not encouraged to.
Plants are there to attract customers into the store to buy other more profitable items. The plants are called "loss leaders" - advertisements in the trade.
A careful shopper can get good plants inexpensively when plants first arrive, but they also get potential diseased plants. Two years ago a massive outbreak of late blight on tomatoes was traced back to an industrial grower of tomatoes for BBSs. The article is still on the New York Times website. The same thing happened in Alaska where I grew up and we were the only State in the US that had no late blight. Alaska was in negotiation with China to sell disease free potatoes to them - first for the US - and a crop my own family raised. The first year a BBS moved into the Valley it sold tomatoes with late blight. China cancelled its negotiations with AK and farmers lost a market for crops and potential expansion.
Disclaimer: I work for a nursery/garden center. We sell plants as our livelyhood, not as loss leaders or advertisements. Time and time again customers returned shamefaced saying they bought a plant at a BBS and it died, was weak, or spread disease, so they return to us. I tell them Big Box Stores are fine for hardware - because they've are hardware stores - but would you buy meat from your dentist just because she or he had a freezer full in the lounge?
If we don't support good local nurseries, small seed/bulb listers, or garden centers (even those who enter the 21st century and sell on eBay like the very reputable Beth Chatto Nursery) they will disappear - and so will much of the joys in our lives.
Convenience and low cost always has a hidden price. Are we aware of that? Do we want to pay it?
Jim
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Gerard gave the Galanthus registrar details again earlier this month:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8571.msg230084#msg230084
Crumbs, Maggi, you didn't need to shout ::)
(Thanks for the directions)
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I would hope nurseries in the UK don't adopt any of the US practices. Unpaid workers. ??? Sounds like slavery to me and I thought that had been abolished! :o
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Gerard gave the Galanthus registrar details again earlier this month:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8571.msg230084#msg230084
Crumbs, Maggi, you didn't need to shout ::)
(Thanks for the directions)
Probably not.... but you heard me, huh?! ;D
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Yup! :o
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I would hope nurseries in the UK don't adopt any of the US practices. Unpaid workers. ??? Sounds like slavery to me and I thought that had been abolished! :o
Sorry if I made it sound like the workers aren't paid! It's the company "selling" the plants to the BBSs that isn't paid until the plant actually passes over the BBSs' cash register, the customer paying for it. Still an awful business practice to my mind, especially with a living thing. But it tells you how much money the company selling to the BBSs are still able to make with probably 40% losses. . . not counting what dies on the gardener.
And yes, it may create new gardeners, but I hope they'll then turn to the nurseries for their plants and variety next time.