Galanthus on Ebay

[mark smyth]

Anyone know what/who this Galanthus is
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galanthus-elwesii-10-flowering-size-bulbs-PREORDER-FOR-SEPTEMBER-/151084148295?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item232d512647

I know s/he isn't selling it because I had to ask for my photos to be removed. I just like the snowdrop

[Diane Clement]

There's something a bit suspicious about the full listing for this seller.  It's a very long list, with some rare S American and S African bulbs listed, as well as other species rare in cultivation.  It would be interesting to know if anyone has had positive dealings with this seller.       

[Alan_b]

It's a very pretty snowdrop.  If it is a named cultivar then I don't recognise it.  But with this seller it appears that you are buying in bulk with no indication that what you get is what is in the photograph. 

[mark smyth]

found it .. Daphne's Scissors
http://carolynsshadegardens.com/2013-snowdrop-catalogue/galanthus-daphnes-scissors/

Not sure if Carolyn has it named correctly but maybe I can buy a couple

[Alan_b]

Well done Mark, you have found the exact same image!  A stolen image never bodes well on eBay.

[johnralphcarpenter]

The seller is Lefty Dariot, Gedeon 6, Peania, Attiki 19002 GR, Greece.

I bought a Crinum bulb last year, arrived  promptly, no problems.

[Alan_b]

Galanthus sales on eBay now feature in the 'Personal finance' section of the Daily Telegraph! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/10570432/Snowdrop-mania-returns-195-for-one-bulb.html

[RichardW]

Interesting but the last paragraph makes for depressing reading.

[mark smyth]

Joe told me he removed flowers all the time. His nursery is open but the garden is never open

[Brian Ellis]

How else would he stop cross pollination, seeding and the risk of having his stock unreliably labelled?

[François Lambert]

Can't comment on this listing, but I have in the past purchased a few bulbs from this seller - when his prices were more affordable that nowadays.  The bulbs I purchased at that time were of excellent quality and true to name (quite evident since the ones I purchased cannot be propagated by seeds)

[RichardW]

I understand the reasoning but as someone who gets a lot of pleasure from seeing them flower, and showing others think it would find it very difficult to pluck them off or hide them away, but it's the opposite of what I've spent the last 20 years doing.

[Alan_b]

How else would he stop cross pollination, seeding and the risk of having his stock unreliably labelled?

He could remove the seed heads.  Removing the flowers probably increases the risk that mislabelled stock passes undetected.

I agree with Richard that my whole pleasure in growing snowdrops derives from seeing the flowers and even if I were to do it commercially, I would still want to see the flowers if I wanted to enjoy my work.

[Brian Ellis]

Well that is probably what he is doing, he doesn't say that he is removing the flowers as soon as they open

[Alan_b]

Yes, Brian, that makes good sense so I'm sure you must be correct.  Nevertheless it must feel like having a birthday cake, eating one slice yourself and throwing the rest away.