Galanthus: January 2008

[Martin Baxendale]

Big Boy - I see it every Feb when I go to England for snowdrop events. I'll not say publicaly or private who has them.

Then I'm not quite sure what's the point of this part of your post. I personally find it a bit offensive when you say to me and others on the forum, in effect "I know but I'm not telling you".

[Gerard Oud]

And Mark when you see it every year, why don't you have picture of it in your Gallery?
Or is taking a picture of it also not publicaly or non private.

[Martin Baxendale]

Mark, I really think it would be better in this sort of situation, to just say something vague like you know it is around but those who have it keep it a close secret.

To go out of your way to say that you see it every year (so know who has it) but will not say who publicly on the forum (not unreasonable) and will also not tell any of the forum members in private smacks of boasting and a public declaration of mistrust of all forum members.

That's why I take offense. I don't like being told publicly that I'm not to be trusted.

Next time, please keep that sort of comment to yourself.

[mark smyth]

Martin I should have said for security reasons I'll not say where I see them

[Paddy Tobin]

Mark,

Could you make a stab at a name for that snowdrop?

And take it easy with the bug!

Paddy

[mark smyth]

'Big Boy'

[Martin Baxendale]

Martin I should have said for security reasons I'll not say where I see them

Mark, editing you posting now doesn't really help. My remarks still stand. Better and less offensive to be vague than to go out of your way to say that you know but won't tell any of us even privately for fear that one of us might steal them. I understand not wanting to broadcast it to the public at large via the forum, but the implication of your wording was "don't ask because I won't tell you, no matter who you are, because I can't trust any of you." Sticking in "for security reasons" now doesn't really make it any better.

It would have been so easy to say something that no-one could take offense at. Yet you chose to imply that you did not trust anyone on this forum.

Nor was I wanting to know who has Big Boy, so telling me now in a PM as you've done isn't what I was after. I just want to make that clear, in case I should attract any further suspicion! I was trying to help out Gerard.

[Paddy Tobin]

Rob,

A local snowdrop garden, Altamont Gardens, Co. Carlow, which opens for a snowdrop week each year has all snowdrops very clearly labelled. Of course, they keep back-up bulbs in a back garden for safety.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Of course, they keep back-up bulbs in a back garden for safety

Have to say, if I were opening my garden to large numbers of people ( which thankfully, given the layout and planting, is no longer feasible) I would be inclined to have watchmen on towers with twelve bore shotguns, but that may be "overkill" as they say

[Martin Baxendale]

I wasn't objecting to people being cautious about advertising the exact whereabouts of rare snowdrops. That's reasonable. I was objecting to the way Mark put it. A little tact and diplomacy, or simple vagueness, wouldn't have gone amiss - instead of "I know but I'm not telling you".

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

Mind you, to the best of my knowledge they have not suffered any losses.

Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

I see 'Don' (the chappie from Cambridge) is now advertising 'Trym' on ebay.

[Alan_b]

i hear at anglsey abbey they dont have labels on any of the drops becuase they had theives before, so instead they are all numbered, and they dont give the numbered list out to anyone for fear of theives.
a good protective measure i think.
who would have thought such a little plant has so many fans!

rob

There seems to be a "dark side" to snowdrop collecting.  Certain individuals will "collect" snowdrops that belong to other people!  I would not describe such individuals as "fans".  Unfortunately this means that when discussing desirable snowdrops on a public forum, such as this, it would be ill-judged to reveal their owner or location.

Fortunately, I believe the dishonest individuals are greatly outnumbered by honest and generous collectors. 

[Gerard Oud]

I wish i had never started asking about the Elwesii Big boy, because it seems to me that a single snowdrop has to be treated the same like the Royal families treasures.

[Brian Ellis]

Gerard, don't feel sorry I think this has been a very sensible discussion with some interesting points made.  I was told that when you view the 'special' collection at Anglesey Abbey someone is watching the group all the time, obviously they must have had a bad experience in the past.  I am sure they would also have backups elsewhere.  We were fortunate enough to go to Richard Ayres own garden where there were some lovely snowdrops and I am sure Anglesey Abbey grounds are big enough to have a secure corner somewhere!