August 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Tim Ingram]

'Oxford Blue' is a misnomer for 'Georgia Blue' Jamus. I remember when I first grew this I had it listed as V. pedunculata and Roy Lancaster sent me a note to correct it to peduncularis, and now it seems to have become umbrosa! There is a kind of legalistic complexity in plant naming which can be of no help at all until you realise that the plant came originally from Georgia, was introduced by Roy Lancaster, and is a super plant! (The RHS Plantfinder is the best source reference for horticultural names and has a lot of useful information on synonymy, even if this does become at times a frustration for the humble nurseryman and gardener  ).

[Lesley Cox]

Hi Anthony, the yellow galanthus are virtually non existent in NZ so far as I know but we have a couple of  people who don't care to share information so who knows what they have? I have been told by another  person that she knows someone who has yellows but she refuses to name THAT person so again, who knows. I have no patience with people who think they alone are entitled to information. In this era when we can so easily lose what little we have of a plant, it seems like madness to hug material or information about sources to oneself.

I have half a dozen seedlings, just in their second year, from Anne Wright, from yellows but too soon to tell yet. Marcus's 'Spindlestone Surprise' is really super.

[Anthony Darby]

Yes Lesley, and it's not just information. If I have two, one's got your name on it is my motto. I can name a few people who seem to be the only ones with a particular plant, and they have potfuls of them! Waiting for them to bulk up, no doubt? 

[Maggi Young]

I have half a dozen seedlings, just in their second year, from Anne Wright, from yellows but too soon to tell yet. Marcus's 'Spindlestone Surprise' is really super.

Another of the handful of Dryad Gold series galanthus, bred by Anne Wright has just been sold -  for £226 oops. jumpedth gun, got the time wrong - still got a few minutes to go!  ..... .if you get some as good as Anne's babies  it'll be a triumph, Lesley!


 edit by M - Galanthus 'Dryad Gold Bullion' just soled for  £326.99 !!

[Lesley Cox]

I look forward (through this morning's deep, deep fog) with great anticipation Maggi.


Edit by Maggi - fog is about the only weather type we're not getting much of here this "summer", Lesley. 

[Hillview croconut]

Hi guys,

I get occasional seeds from my range of yellows. If I get some this next season I send you some Anthony. I have another NZ friend who asked me only a week ago if I had any so if I find a few I'll let you know.

A few more from Hill View:

Crocus tomm. Taplow Ruby - is this extinct in Europe?

Galanthus "Trymlet" - much better doer than its parent.

Galanthus "Ketton" - Good old tried and true one.

Cheers, Marcus

[Jupiter]

Wow Marcus, Galanthus Trymlet is wonderful. Ketton is lovely too. I'm waiting patiently for my spring crocuses... They are a bit behind yours, bizarrely. Other things I have flowering here ahead of you.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Jamus,

Yeah, "Trymlet" is a lot better increaser than "Trym" or "Megan". I haven't got "Trumps", should have brought it in to this country when I had the chance.

A couple more yellows:


Wendy's Gold - my favourite (out of focus, dirt splashed and all!)

Savill Gold - a beautiful but fairly weak individual.

Cheers, M

[vivienne Condon]

How lovely they are Marcus all of them.

[Maggi Young]

Hi guys,
A few more from Hill View:

Crocus tomm. Taplow Ruby - is this extinct in Europe?

Cheers, Marcus

It seems to be very seldom mentioned, Marcus, so I fear it may well be, if not extinct, then barely hanging on.
I think they still have it on North America ( Carolyn Walker in Pennsylvania, for instance, mentions it) - so it appears that it is up to you folks in Australasia and North America to keep it going !  It would be lovely to hear if   there are still people growing it in Europe.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Maggi,

I don't know if I am the only one here in Australia. Otto might have it because he lives quite close to the Tonkin family who distributed it many years ago.

I bought it from Brian Tonkin at least 20 years ago now. I have a few other forms including Bowles' famous selections, Bobbo and Pictus, both gifts from Alan Edwards, as well as Claret, which Ray Cobb sent out in the days when biosecurity was a startup venture. Its big business now with a strangle hold on everything.

I don't know if we sleep in our beds any more easily.

Cheers, Marcus

[Lesley Cox]

I doubt if we do Marcus. We had a nice batch of black widow spiders and something else poisonous come in a week or two ago, in Mexican grapes. We are assured that what we're now offered in the supermarkets have been fumigated. Does that mean we are dosing ourselves with methyl bromide or similar when we add grapes to the fruit salad or cheese boards?

[Anthony Darby]

I found black widow spiders when I went exploring in the hotel grounds in Riviera Maya, mexico back in 2007. 

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Lesley (and Anthony), Kurt Vickery has seeds from Galanthus Spindlestone Surprise for sale.

Regards biosecurity - I say bah and humbug!

M

[Anthony Darby]

Mmmmm.