Galanthus January 2007

[mark smyth]

Joakim as you already know it will take a photo of flowers and leaves for a positive ID

[hadacekf]

Never before was Galanthus elwesii the first of all my galanthus. This year it is the first in my meadow!

[ian mcenery]

It seems a funny season so far but here is one of mine in flower. Mrs MacNammara

[Joakim B]

Mark and anyone else
Here is a picture of a picture from the package of galanthos ikariae. They do not look like the ones in Marks album.
Is it possible to say what the picture snowdrops are? I know it might be others that come up but the picture might get a hint of what is coming. Sorry for the bad picture I had problem with the flash.

I read somewhere that ikariae is now called woronowii is that true?

[mark smyth]

yes ikariae and woronowii are mixed up. The leaves are similar but the flowers are not. Your package shows as far as I can tell nivalis

[John Forrest]

Joakim, best advice is never believe the picture that is on the label of plants, particularly from garden centres. Mark and I have felt the sting of disappointment too often.

[mark smyth]

very true. I dont really trust any supplier anymore including those in business a long time.

[Paddy Tobin]

Galanthus 'Fred's Giant' in flower today. I particularly like those galanthus with long and slim outer perianth segments; they seem to hang more elegantly than the more dumpy cultivars.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Aha, Paddy, you have a problem with "dumpy" do you? Think carefully, now, you may want to rephrase that, some of us are sensitive about such things !! 
Actually, I find that my usual cavalier and catholic attitude to which flowers I love is never more obvious than when I am looking at snowdrops; if I'm loooking at a long slim one, I think, how elegant it is; then when I see a dumpy one I think, how charming to see how little and fat it is... I'm a horticultural slapper, and no mistake!! And, thank you, no " you can lead a 'hore to culture, but you cannot make her think" jokes, i can do those myself.

[mark smyth]

Maggi et al I have added more photo to the web site. It's those in yellow
http://www.snowdropinfo.com/gallery2007.htm

Maggi you do realise in two weeks time all you will hear from me from dawn to dusk is G-a-l-a-n-t-h-u-s

[Maggi Young]

More good work there, Mark, though it pains me to admit it ! I am taking extra vitamins to strengthen myself for your visit, I think i will cope!

[Paddy Tobin]

But Maggi,

Is there anyone more elegant than you?

Anyone reading who thinks otherwise speak up now.

And even the dumpy ones find a welcome place in the garden.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Now, Paddy, you can't get out of it with that flannel...next you'll be asking me " if I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me" !! Ah, yes, the old jokes are the best!
I've been having a look at Mark's photos... I think I do have a leaning towards the dumpies. When I look at lots of shots, one after another, i can even see some differences myself...don't tell anyone, mind.

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

Perhaps, as is said of footballers:  a good big one is better than a good small one?

And I have no idea whatever what flannel is, except that used for washing. Anything else would be completely foreign to me. Now, on the other hand, B......ting might be something I have practiced on the very odd occasion, but never with malintent.

Paddy

[snowdropman]

Just back from a weeks holiday in Rome, where temperatures were circa 10C warmer than usual, with no wind or rain - which I gather is quite a contrast to the very strong winds & torrential rain here in the south of England whilst I was away.

A tour of the garden this morning revealed the dramatic effects of the very wet & mild weather experienced in recent months with about 80 different snowdrops already in flower - mostly elwesii, plicatus & hybrids but including a few nivalis &, surprisingly, several forms of my favourite snowdrops, g. ikariae & g. woronowii, that do not usually flower until late February/early March - the latter species looked great, but I do not know how long they will last in these milder temperatures.

Mercifully, the slug situation does not seem to have worsened and no further evidence of slug damage was noted on the snowdrops.