Galanthus nivalis 'Green Light'

[Alan_b]

This year Monksilver Nursery are offering a new snowdrop named 'Green Light'.  The description reads "a nivalis with bright shining green leaves and green-tipped outer petals".  Joe tells me this is a snowdrop I discovered growing 'wild' in 2004 and drew to his attention.  We both have bulbs that were side-by-side when we collected them so it is a fair assumption they are clones.  A number of people have asked me what 'Green Light' looks like so here are some pictures I managed to take yesterday in my garden when the sun was shining.  You'll have to excuse the specks of dirt evident in the close-up.  I have a couple of bulbs in another location so what you see is about two thirds of my entire stock.   

I make no claims to photographic expertise.  The first shot shows 'Green Light' in my experimental raised bed.  In the second shot I zoom out so you can see how the green of the leaves contrasts with the glaucous green of the snowdrops that surround it.  In the final shot I zoom in. 

[mark smyth]

That's a nice snowdrop that holds it's head very well

[Anthony Darby]

Looks very nice.

[Paul T]

If you'd have posted that pic without any species mentioned, I would have placed it as an ikariae by it's appearance, both in flower proportion and leaves.  Looks very much like the ikariae we grow here in Australia (not sure whether all ikariae are created equal or not, which is why I specify Australia) which don't of course have green tips.  Nice plant you have there.

[Alan_b]

It was found it a wood where all the other snowdrops (except for a clump of elwesii by a house at the entrance ~1 km away) appear to be nivalis.  The vernation is certainly applenate like nivalis.  The leaves are a similar width.  Otherwise I cannot vouch for its nivalis credentials but I assume Joe Sharman, who has classified it a G. nivalis, knows his stuff.   

[Paul T]

Looking closer the leaves aren't broad enough really, nor quite the right shape, but the green is pretty right, and the flower shape etc.  It is close enough to be a bit freaky!! 

[Anthony Darby]

That's why galanthophiles have muddy knees, but I suspect this one distinctive enough to attract attention from afar?

[Alan_b]

This is my first sighting in January 2004.  You can see it stands out; but this is considerably aided by the fact that it also flowers a few weeks early than most of the surrounding snowdrops.

[KentGardener]

Hi Alan

that photo of it in the wild, showing it compared to the others, really shows it off a treat.  A very distinctive plant indeed.  Very nice.

thanks

John

[Maggi Young]

Even in your 'at home' shot, we can see the bright shiny green of the foliage. In the natural shot the contrast  between the foliage types is lovely.

[Anthony Darby]

This must be like finding buried treasure Alan? The photo looks like there is a beam of sunlight hitting the patch of green (accomanied by some Mantovani) drawing you to it like a magnet. I think if I made such a discovery I'd need to lie down in a darkened room for a while.

[Alan_b]

My first reaction on finding a green-leaved snowdrop growing in a wood was disbelief.  I thought maybe they had been under some leaves and the colour would not last, so I went back a week later to take another look and took this (out of focus) photograph.  It was not until I got home and saw the photograph blown up on my computer monitor that I noticed the green marks on the outer petals!  Score 1/10 for observation.  But I got really excited because I knew this snowdrop was not just another 'Anglesey Abbey' but had a feature that made it unique.

[Brian Ellis]

Very nice Alan, you should be promoted from Junior member immediately

Is it just my poor old eyes, your particular photo or does it have quite a large ovary?

[Maggi Young]

Very nice Alan, you should be promoted from Junior member immediately

These epithets : newbie, junior senior, hero etc are merely devices used by the forum software to designate the number of posts made by a person 
Thus, were Linnaeus himself to join this Forum, he would remain a newbie till he made a goodly number of posts, regardless of his doubtless excellent personal qualities and knowledge! 
So, no offence meant, Alan, or to your champion, Brian, but "junior" you remain!!

[Anthony Darby]

Judging by the source of interesting drops Alan has he'll soon make another 13 postings.