digression from chipping to Flocon de neige

[Anthony Darby]

I'm with Gerard. 'Flocon de neige', in my book must be the "Holy Grail" of snowdrops.

[Maggi Young]

For those who don't know this snowdrop, here's a photo by Mark Smyth, from elsewhere in the forum of Galanthus 'Flocon de neige'....
 

[mark smyth]

I heard a whisper today the 'Flocon' will appear on one of the lists that will come out later this month. The price will be c£50 for a flowering bulb.

[Anthony Darby]

Thanks for posting the pic Maggi. Awesome.

[Anthony Darby]

Anthony are you sure Flocon is your Holy Grail? There are many better snowdrops available

Go for it Mark. I didn't think you could get much more better than 'Flocon de Neige' so I am interested to see what you consider better?

[Gerard Oud]

Names please Mark!

[mark smyth]

Richard Ayres, Hill Poe, Barbaras Double, Tutu, Rodmarton

[Anthony Darby]

None of these is a patch on 'Flocon de Neige' (I've not heard of 'Tutu', so may be doing this one a disservice)? I have 'Hill Poë', and it's OK but too variable.

[mark smyth]

Yes I agree with you on Hill Poe but it needs a year or two to settle. It hates being moved and best bought when dormant

I'm not saying 'Floccon' isnt worth looking for, it's lovely in real life, but many people are chasing the almost impossible e.g. I was emailed this week by someone in Germany wanting me to get him EA Bowles, Ecusson d'Or, Pagoda and Hoverfly

Here's 'Tutu'

[Martin Baxendale]

None of these is a patch on 'Flocon de Neige' (I've not heard of 'Tutu', so may be doing this one a disservice)? I have 'Hill Poë', and it's OK but too variable.

I'm with Anthony on this one, Mark. I saw 'Flocon de Neige' in David Bromley's garden years ago and I agree it's a beauty in the flesh. 'Hill Poe' can be very nice if it does exactly what it should, but for me in most years it just doesn't. I keep growing it despite the exasperation. 'Barbara's Double' is lovely (and if it wasn't I'd treasure it anyway as it was a present from Amy Doncaster and a constant living reminder of her - she told me she got it from E.A. Bowles, who named it after Lady Buchanan's daughter, who Bowles liked "in a gentlemanly way" which was Amy Doncaster's way of trying to say something about Bowles without quite saying it, in an old fashioned sort of way). And I wouldn't say the others mentioned outshine 'Flocon de Neige'.

Did you get my pm, Mark, about accommodation if you do the CGS snowdrop group talk? The offer's still open if they haven't already made you an offer of overnight acommodation.

[Brian Ellis]

'Barbara's Double' is lovely (and if it wasn't I'd treasure it anyway as it was a present from Amy Doncaster and a constant living reminder of her - she told me she got it from E.A. Bowles, who named it after Lady Buchanan's daughter, who Bowles liked "in a gentlemanly way" which was Amy Doncaster's way of trying to say something about Bowles without quite saying it, in an old fashioned sort of way).

That's why so many of the snowdrops are treasured, they each have a tale to tell and are a result of an act of kindness, there are several that have the same kudos with me, either because of who gave them or in respect of which garden they came from...and I'm looking for 'Flocon de Neige' this year too Anthony, a man of good taste.

[Hagen Engelmann]

Brian, with your help I lifted some of my missunderstood treasures. Information gaps are closed. Thank you so much Britisher.

[Brian Ellis]

You are more than welcome Hagen.

[Gerard Oud]

You have not convinced me either Mark, no more names?
Rodmarton is nice Barbara's double is beauty and Hill Poe is very nice but variable and what i also noticed that it makes very much and long roots, i do lift sometimes the pots to see if they are alive and the one with Hill Poe was almost "frozen". But what i forgot to tell is that Flocon de neige is one step beyond.

[Paddy Tobin]

I find comments on G. 'Hill Poe' interesting. Here, I have I have found it performs perfectly consistently and had thought that G 'Hill Poe' was generally noted for its more regular arrangement of inner segments than other double snowdrops. I am surprised to see comments to the contrary.

Being a snowdrop of Irish origins, of course, I have a strong appreciation of G. 'Hill Poe' and the only thing about G. 'Flocon de Niege' which particularly marks it apart is its novelty. G. 'Hill Poe' has been grown for many years in gardens and continues to be a very garden-worthy plant.

Paddy