Galanthus February 2008

[Brian Ellis]

A friend found these snowdrops yesterday in a Victoria garden
made in 1937

Absolutely wonderful Diane, it shows that there are still a lot of marvellous 'drops out there if we only know where to look.

[Paddy Tobin]

Martin,

Good sunshine here in Waterford yesterday afternoon and snowdrops obligingly opened for the camera. Here is a photograph of G. 'Cicely Hall', worth comparing with the bulb you received from Paul Christian.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

Martin,

Good sunshine here in Waterford yesterday afternoon and snowdrops obligingly opened for the camera. Here is a photograph of G. 'Cicely Hall', worth comparing with the bulb you received from Paul Christian.

Paddy

Don't make me cry, Paddy!      (seriously, though - it's a real beauty; thanks for the pic).

[Paddy Tobin]

Apologies for the upset Martin,

Robin Hall, justifiably perhaps, says it is undoubtedly the best Irish snowdrop cultivar. Personally, I think it is outstanding but think there are a few which are in the same range as it. Some of those below might be considered, such as G. 'Hill Poe', G. 'David Shackleton' or G. 'Straffan'.

I think the G. 'Lady Elphinstone' posted below is showing its yellow colouration very well though this clump didn't produce many flowes this year.

Also you might note  my wife's method of marking her favourite patch of G. 'Hill Poe' - a little twee perhaps but the mushroom does the job for her and keeps her from prodding the bulbs with her fork when freshening up this bed.

Below are a few of other snowdrops from yesterday afternoon.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

Paddy, I see (behind 'Curley') you have Cardamine quinquefolia. Is it not a bit of a pest for you? Or have you not had it long? I'm currently weeding it out of my snowdrop beds as it's turned into a real thug here. It runs like crazy, its long white rhizomes getting everywhere. Even strong clumps of snowdrops seem to suffer from its competition as it hides their leaves from the light up to half the snowrops' height. Plus it competes for moisture just when the snowdrops need moisture most. I'm going to confine it to large pots, tubs and the most inhospitable corners of the garden. It's a lovely flower, I just wish it wasn't quite so successful here!

[Paddy Tobin]

Cardamine quinquefolia it is indeed, Martin. A beautiful plant, very obliging, grows in even the most difficult situations - here in complete shade - but does run along and seems to have the ability to appear in places in the garden where it was never planted at all. G. 'Curly' is the only snowdrop in its vicinity here and I have it in mind to move that later in the season anyway. There are a few other snowdrops at the other side of a pathway across from this clump and I have no doubt it will  make its way across to them at some stage when action and relocation of those snowdrops will be called for. Although this is an area in complete shade it is an area which is very well fed as it is beside my compost area and there is always a good run-off from them to the plants here.

Such a pity that those plants that do so well with such little care can also so quickly become pests.

Paddy

[Hans J]

Paddy ,

nice to see your pics - could you please send a little bigger pics?
special "Emerald ......

Thanks
Hans

[Paddy Tobin]

Hans,

I expected you to spot G. ikariae 'Emerald Isle' knowing of your interest in it. Here are some larger photographs.

Paddy

[Hans J]

Hi Paddy - many thanks .....now I see the pics in great !

and Martin and I can now sit together and cry

[Paddy Tobin]

Hans,

I sometimes sit and cry also as I would wish this snowdrop would thrive in the garden while it simply exists and grows at a very slow pace.

Paddy

[Hans J]

Paddy ,

here comes the revanche :
look at my last topic ( Gal. from C.R. )

[Hagen Engelmann]

Paddy, were did the DAVID SHACKLETON come from? I have the same but also another with  much better marks of the inner segments.

[Paddy Tobin]

Hagen,

It came from the Beth Chatto Nursery in 2005, 1 bulb @ £7. It has done well in the garden and there are three flowers at present.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

Hagen any photos of your snowdrop? Mine look like Paddy's

[Paddy Tobin]

Catching up on yesterday's photographs, a few more from the garden.

The first, labelled G. elw. ex Altamont is simply a Galanthus elwesii that I have admired for a few years in Altamont Gardens, Co. Carlow, Ireland where it grows in good drifts and has very impressive glaucous foliage. Hopefully, Mark will add his comments to this as we looked at it recently in Altamont along with a few friends and all seemed to be impressed by it.

Paddy

Gal. elw. ex Altamont 270208
 Gal. elw. ex Altamont 270208 (2
 Gal. niv. 270208.
 Gal. niv. 'Chedworth' 270208
 Gal. 'Peg Sharples' 270208 (1)
 Gal. 'Pucey Greentips' 270208
 Gal. 'Sharlockii' 270208 (1)
 Gal. 'St. Anne's' 270208 (1).
 Gal. 'Tiny Tim' 270208
 Gal. 'Trym' 270208 (3)