Galanthus in February 2013

[KentGardener]

Photo of my seedling when I get home. Close by Trumps, Lady Elphinstone and Ecusson

Ooh, yes please Mark.   

That sound like a most intriguing  mix for a galanthus flower.

[mark smyth]

Its only single flowered so no double genes. The photo is over exposed. I'll try again when the flower opens

[John Aipassa]

  Nevertheless, it is a beauty!

[KentGardener]

Wow - that is lovely with that yellow Mark, Mark!   

Let us hope it is a stable characteristic and turns out to be a good increaser.

[annew]

Looks exciting, Mark, the gene fairies have been very kind!

[Mavers]

It's a beauty Mark, hope it does well........remember to spread it around to other forum members just in case it decides not to like you

[Gail]

I'm just having a play with some pollen dusting. Can anyone point me in the direction of a good article on hand pollinating galanthus? The snowdrops monograph reports that Church says the stigma is receptive as soon as the flowers open. I'm finding it difficult removing the anthers without releasing pollen. Are they self-fertile or is emasculation unnecessary?

[art600]

I was delighted to find this plant with 3 scapes.  There appears to be a fourth, but I think this is from a daughter bulb.

Inner mark is shown

[KentGardener]

It's a beauty Mark, hope it does well........remember to spread it around to other forum members just in case it decides not to like you

Or get someone like Martin or Margaret to chop it for you.   

[Martin Baxendale]

Its only single flowered so no double genes. The photo is over exposed. I'll try again when the flower opens

Mark, are you sure it isn't a stray bulb from your Ecusson clump that you say is nearby?

[Martin Baxendale]

I'm just having a play with some pollen dusting. Can anyone point me in the direction of a good article on hand pollinating galanthus? The snowdrops monograph reports that Church says the stigma is receptive as soon as the flowers open. I'm finding it difficult removing the anthers without releasing pollen. Are they self-fertile or is emasculation unnecessary?

I find it too fiddly and time consuming to remove the anthers so I just try to catch the flowers as soon as they open and get the stigma well covered with the pollen from my brush before the flower's own pollen has a chance to drop. Snowdrops are not generally very self-fertile so I find this mostly works well.

[KentGardener]

I'm lucky to be working from home today and started work at stupid o'clock - so am allowing myself a few 45 mins sessions in the garden.

Sorry if there is a slight picture overload from me this weekend - but taking the pics really cheers me up and this is the first warm day in ages. 

Some pics from my elevenses.   

1 & 2 - 'John Gray' - this was always a disappointment in the back garden as it had a real tendency to "flop".  It was suggested on this forum a few year back that I try it drooping over the edge of a raised bed.  So I planted it in the sink outside my front door.  It is the only snowdrop out front but seems very happy and helps to make people smile as they walk past.     Pic 1 is my neighbours cat licking it's lips as she know I have cat treat hidden just inside my front door! 

3 - 'Sentinel'

4 - elwesii 'Wispy'- one of Phil Cornish's find with "the smallest inner mark" he has seen on an elwesii.

5 - 'Ivy Cottage Green Tips' - some years the marks is almost invisible - but this year it is quite prominent on 80% of the flowers.   

[Anthonyh]

Very nice snowdrops and pictures John... I look forward to seeing some more... I hope it's nice down there... it's very sunny here in Worcestershire- perfect for some 45 minute breaks!

John Gray looks very happy there... and you've pushed 'Ivy Cottage Green Tips' closer to the top of my wish list... My few green tipped elwesii, especially Jessica, are barely showing any green here this year.

[Brian Ellis]

My few green tipped elwesii, especially Jessica, are barely showing any green here this year.

Me too Anthony, very disappointing.

[ronm]

Maggi - On our SRGC Calender ( the hard copy that came with the last Journal ), today is indicated as 'Snowdrop Day'. What is the significance of this please?