Yellow Snowdrops

[mark smyth]

I would give all those yellows a home 

[snowdropcollector]

Thank you Brian, Gunters Geist is a Nivalis.

[Brian Ellis]

Thank you Brian, Gunters Geist is a Nivalis.

Thanks for the conformation, now we just need to know about 'Audrey Vockins'.
See Reply #158

[Alan_b]

Somewhere or other we had a discussion about what soil yellow snowdrops need.  This is a picture of a molehill at Wandlebury Ring, near where many of their snowdrops grow.  You can see it is a rich loamy soil.



But a little way down the hill and there is a lot more chalk.  I'm surprised the moles don't hurt themselves!

[ChrisB]

Here is a picture of the two yellow snowdrops I have.  Before I tell you the names can any of you tell me what you think they are please?  There are a few perfectly ordinary ones in the same container



 edit by maggi to rotate picture

[Alan_b]

Before I tell you the names can any of you tell me what you think they are please?

Long mark on left so 'Wendy's Gold'.  Short mark on right so unidentifiable from flower alone.

[ChrisB]

Brilliant, I'm well impressed. The one on the right was labelled Spindlestone Surprise. Thank you!

[Brian Ellis]

Thanks for the conformation, now we just need to know about 'Audrey Vockins'.

I spoke to Joe this morning and he confirmed that Audrey Vockins is not a valid name for this snowdrop, apparently Günter Waldorf named the snowdrop which was going to be called 'Audrey Vockins' as 'Günter's Geist' in his book and Joe hadn't realised what he had done, however Joe has the name for another snowdrop.  I have therefore removed the reference off the lists.

[Tim Harberd]

Should I be binning my Bill Clark?

All leaves affected, tho' its less noticeable on older ones.

Tim DH

[Alan_b]

Tim, the general opinion is that those marks indicate a virus and there is no way back.  To prevent possible spread you are advised to bin such snowdrops.  I have no personal experinece to comment on whether that really is a virus, whether it really is incurable and whether it really is likely to spread if left alone.  But I wouldn't want to be the one to take a risk so I would shed a tear and bin that 'Bill Clark' if it were mine. 

[Brian Ellis]

Sadly I have to agree with Alan, it's not worth the risk of transfer to your other snowdrops.  I would also drench the soil with something nasty or avoid planting another snowdrop there.

[Blonde Ingrid]

Some galanthophiles have asked me whether G. Ronald Mackenzie and G.g. Lemongrass from Andy Byfield, are very similar. These two photos should provide a useful contrast between two of the great yellows. In addition to the structural details:

Ronald Mackenzie has the same colour on both the apical mark and the basal mark, Lemongrass has a bright yellow apical mark but a darker yellow/green on the basal mark.

In my experience, Ronald Mackenzie always has the two separated apical marks, whereas Lemongrass can have two or a joined inverted 'U'.

Both are good growers in my experience and both will add to the collection of any yellow devotee!

[johnralphcarpenter]

Spot the difference:

Galanthus plicatus 'Wendy's Gold'
Galanthus nivalis Sandersii Group 'Lowick'
Galanthus 'Spindlestone Surprise'.

[Cfred72]

Spot the difference:

Galanthus plicatus 'Wendy's Gold'
Galanthus nivalis Sandersii Group 'Lowick'
Galanthus 'Spindlestone Surprise'.

The first to a curved pedicel. The second one does not. The third would be double?

[Alan_b]

The third would be double?

Actually, no, although I see what you mean.  We actually lack a good double yellow snowdrop.  There is the long-established 'Lady Elphinstone' which is sometimes yellow and the never-seen 'Netherhall Double Yellow' which I have heard is suspected of being the same as 'Lady Elphinstone' so I presume is also not reliably yellow either.  And AFAIK, that's it.  A lot of the 'fancy' snowdrops do not exist as doubles, although I hear tell that Joe Sharman has managed to breed a double poculiform one.