Galanthus in December 2018

[Josh Nelson]

My earliest flowering byzantinus so far is a virescent find from last spring - much earlier than when found and dropping today (may have dropped while I have been at my parents today but sure it will be Boxing Day if not and pretty much out for Christmas anyway!). 

It's in the Kryptonite school of partly marked outers, a bit like a plicate version of Anne's lovely elwesii find above.  A small bulb when found last year; it has two scapes coming this season, so seems to be maturing nicely.

[Anne Repnow]

What a lovely plant, Josh! Very special indeed.
What I've noticed about early galanthus in my garden: they seem to bloom earlyer and earlyer the more settled and fat the bulb has become. This parameter seems to be more important than weather conditions in the summer.

[Roma]

Galanthus corcyrensis feeling the cold yesterday



Galanthus nivalis floreplena.  The first two are at the door of a derelict farmhouse.  The third one in grass by the roadside.  It used to be a narrow strip of grass between a wall and the road but the old wall was removed and a new one built further back.  The area was cultivated and grass sown but the snowdrops are still there.

[Blonde Ingrid]

Lovely bright sunshine this afternoon.

First up Aunt Nellie Danglers, one of Andy Byfield's specials. Clumping nicely and quite early as well. Started as a single bulb, in 2017.

Next Dryad Nursery Clone Wars, a group of Anne Wright's specials she has asked me to evaluate. Lovely bright yellows in the winter sun.

Finally, an unnamed Woronowii looking quite pleasing.

[Alan_b]

Galanthus nivalis floreplena.  The first two are at the door of a derelict farmhouse.  The third one in grass by the roadside.  It used to be a narrow strip of grass between a wall and the road but the old wall was removed and a new one built further back.  The area was cultivated and grass sown but the snowdrops are still there.

This is incredibly early for any form of Galanthus nivalis.  Could this be a hybrid with some other snowdrop species?   

[Mariette]

One year we found a double form of G. nivalis flowering in a local wood on the 26. of December. Though unusual, it´s possible despite the less clement climate of Germany.

[Alan_b]

I am perfectly prepared to believe that you may get the odd freak result when it comes to early-flowering.  I have found that bulbs that were moved earlier in the year may flower earlier than usual but revert to normal in subsequent years.  I myself have a single nivalis that consistently flowers quite early in January and others of this type are known, although they are rare.  There are a few double snowdrops that flower early, the earliest being 'Faringdon Double' which will flower in November or December, followed by 'Richard Ayres' and others in January.  These are hybrids, or probably so.

Roma is quite far north in Scotland.  In my opinion a nivalis flowering in December there is very noteworthy and should be brought into cultivation if possible.   

[Roma]

I think it unlikely this is anything other than a seasonal aberration.  Last winter was long and wet then we had a very dry spring and summer followed by a so far mainly mild end of year which may have affected the snowdrops.  The ones in the grass by the roadside could have been disturbed when the original wall was removed and the ground cultivated before sowing grass.   The double nivalis I have in my garden used to flower much earlier than it does now.  My grandfather built the original house here about 1922 and the houses where the snowdrops are would have predated this so it is likely they were passed around.  I have not seen any snowdrops other than double nivalis in local gardens (apart from mine).   

[Mariette]

Many years ago a Dutch galanthophile mentioned that double G. nivalis flowesr rather late. The clone I got from our elderly neighbour usually flowers well before the bulk of single G. nivalis. The double ones are often found in older gardens of our area, and occasionally in some of our small woods, where they were disposed together with other garden waste. You´ll also find single snowdrops there, mostly a clone which bulks well but seldom sets seed.

[ielaba2011]

First time in my garden: Galanthus elwesii. These are supposed to perform better in my climate, let's see what future brings, but for now they look beautiful, more shoots are coming through.

[Maggi Young]

Glad to see those, Jaime - an old friend  is hoping his  galanthus will settle to life in Madeira.

[ielaba2011]

 Thank you Maggi, very happy with my Galanthus for now.

Madeira has different climates, also altitude and humid atlantic climate, it can change whether the slopes are facing south or north. I'm sure your friend will be able to cope with those conditions, and avoid the driest land...I belive virtualy anything can grow in Madeira. In fact, my friend Michael who lives there is also trying to grow Galanthus in the island, He brought  some bulbs from the UK and, as I've been told, they are in flower right now.

[Maggi Young]

Thank you Maggi, very happy with my Galanthus for now.

Madeira has different climates, also altitude and humid atlantic climate, it can change whether the slopes are facing south or north. I'm sure your friend will be able to cope with those conditions, and avoid the driest land...I belive virtualy anything can grow in Madeira. In fact, my friend Michael who lives there is also trying to grow Galanthus in the island, He brought  some bulbs from the UK and, as I've been told, they are in flower right now.

Same friend, Jaime!! I've known Michael for many years since first meeting him here in the Forum!

[Anthony Hawkins]

The cottage garden doubles round here are mostly late flowering. About now I go round marking pots with nothing showing, just to keep an eye on them. One pot* of doubles, from my own garden has, as expected, currently nothing visible.
I have deeds to the cottage from 1860, but no idea when the snowdrops were planted.
*i.e. mesh pot buried in the ground just to help me find the things for dormant removals.

[annew]

Things are VERY early here - struggling to hold things back so they will wait for our events in February - I could have started listing my Dryad Golds before Christmas! Anyway, gearing up for the next few days so we can be off to a racing start with the Golds straight after the New Year 
One young lady couldn't wait and was helping herself to Dryad Gold Sovereign today.