Galanthus: January 2008

[Alan_b]

There are some very nice snowdrops on Ebay, like 'Modern Art' and 'Mr Blobby' but too rich for me. They all seem to be coming from a chap in Cambridge?

Yes.  I am curious to know who this is, as I live close to Cambridge.

[loes]

Gerard,why  Big Boy,what`s so special about that one?

and Brian,I love the first one

[Paddy Tobin]

At Mark's request, here are photographs of a snowdrop for his consideration.

I'll leave the identification to you now, Mark.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

About ebay, i am also watching some items, but i never see someone offering Elwesii Big boy.
I know its on Judys list but she does Uk orders only,can somebody help me please!

Gal. elwesii 'Big Boy' is illusrated in a very nice photo under elwesii cultivars on Judy's Snowdrops website www.judyssnowdrops.co.uk - lots of other very nice snowdrop photos too. For those who don't know. the owner of the site and the grower of the snowdrops is Janet; Judy was her dog.

Gerard, I know Big Boy is listed on the website, but I wasn't aware that Janet was selling it.

[Martin Baxendale]

For the pic galleries on Judy's Snowdrops website, click 'plant profiles'.

[Gerard Oud]

Loes, i think that Big boy might be polyploid so i can use it in my breedingprogram, so if anyone can help please.

[Maggi Young]

Nice plant, Paddy... I can confirm that it IS a snowdrop and, unless I am much mistaken, has plicate leaves, the folds are clearly visible.... that's all anyone NEEDS to know, isn't it ?

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

This is just a follow-up on a previous posting after which Mark asked for clearer photographs of the leaves as wished to clarify the identification.

But, yes, it is a good snowdrop just as it is. However, having the correct name to go with  it does add to its interest.


And stop teasing us who are interested in these gorgeous flowers or you will have to forfeit some of your chocolate!

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Aw shucks..... okay then

[Anthony Darby]

Actually, Maggi is not suffering from 'white fever', so application of chocolate isn't required.

Paddy, that is a very nicely marked plicatus, but it will take someone far more knowledgeable than me to identify the form.

[Brian Ellis]

Now here's a thought, perhaps it should be application of white chocolate

[Martin Baxendale]

Rob, Mrs Thompson is not a plicatus variety, so should not have very plicate leaves. It's a hybrid cultivar between nivalis and plicatus, which has leaves with no plication or just a very little plication on some leaves but none on others.

Really, to look at, the leaves look pretty much like a big nivalis.

Your leaves and flower look fine to me. Even when not doubling, I still think it's a nive flower, very much like Ketton.

[Gerard Oud]

Martin do you think this Big boy is still alive? Have you ever seen it? Do you know somebody else besides Janet, who grows it? And for those who have one for me, i would like to pay or swap for a unnamed one out of my catalog.

[Martin Baxendale]

Martin do you think this Big boy is still alive? Have you ever seen it? Do you know somebody else besides Janet, who grows it? And for those who have one for me, i would like to pay or swap for a unnamed one out of my catalog.

No Gerard, I've never seen elwesii ' Big Boy' and don't know anyone who has it apart from Janet (who I assume still has it). I expect Alan Street at Avon Bulbs, who found it originally, may still have it, but they don;t sell it. Alan Street once told me it's difficult to twin-scale - it 'rests' after twin scaling, refusing to put up a leaf after making bulbils - and I don't think it's easy to grow.

Mark may know someone who has it / sells it. 'Fraid I don't have much time to getting out and about and mixing with other snowdrop growers so I'm not much use at knowing who has what.

[mark smyth]

people I'm ill with the bug that's sweeping the country. So briefly looking in.

Like my web site Janet shows a collection of photos but she did manage to get Big Boy two years ago. I know she's watching and have asked her soooo many times to join in. The choicest bulbs have mighty prices tags because they are rare or growers are holding back on sales

Paddy yes your clump is a nice plicatus. Put me on the waiting list please