Autumn-Season 2008 begins

[art600]

I was lucky to find a site for Galanthus reginae-olgae during my recent trip to the Peloponnese.  I had been given some general directions - look along the banks of a stream 

Due to a very dry season, streams were in short supply, but we decided that a dry river bed could be a possibility.  We had walked about 200 yards , turned a corner and saw....   

Growing near the snowdrops were some scented Cyclamen

[snowdropman]

Arthur - thanks for posting - lovely the way that the snowdrops have emerged through the undergrowth - the sun on that cyclamen gives it a gorgeous colour

[Luc Gilgemyn]

These pix make us feel as if we were there with you Art !! 

[Gerard Oud]

Here are some pics from my first flowering Galanthus, lots of corms at the moment. Bill Bishop will flower soon
regina olgae and monostictus

[mark smyth]

I'll slot in to this thread two Galanthus that should be flowering at Christmas.

G. elwesii monostictus chubby, aka fat, flowers but not what I would call chubby and G. elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse'.

Just added a couple photos of reginae-olgae 'Cambridge'. Despite added slug pellets about half of the flowers have been eaten

[Roma]

I have two fairly ordinary forms of Galanthus reginae-olgae.  The first flowers in August for a short period and likes a well drained sunny position.  The second starts flowering in November and can still be flowering in February.  It seems to grow anywhere.  The spot I have it just now is open but gets no sun when the snowdrop is flowering.  It is also fairly damp, but not boggy.  The temperature was over 14C yesterday which opened up the flowers.  I also noticed buds opening on much shorter stems than the ones which had been developing in cooler, duller weather.

[Tony Willis]

Never a good moment to ask this I suppose but looking at the picture of G. r-o 'Cambridge' and the 'ordinary' one from Roma what is the difference ?

[Brian Ellis]

Tony, I think that you need to see them together (often the way with snowdrops)  G.r-o Cambridge seems a little more sturdy and less delicate looking, although everyone says about the mark, I can't see a lot of difference 

[Tony Willis]

Brian thanks for that answer.

 I have sixty + clones of G. r-o and before asking the question  I went out and pulled a selection of flowers off and compared them with the pictures, in particular the mark. I thought the answer would lie there, but I could see only marginal  differences so I suppose the answer actually lies in the price.

[Maggi Young]

Brian thanks for that answer.

 I have sixty + clones of G. r-o and before asking the question  I went out and pulled a selection of flowers off and compared them with the pictures, in particular the mark. I thought the answer would lie there, but I could see only marginal  differences so I suppose the answer actually lies in the price.

sixty + clones ...... good grief!! Tony, that is evidence of a serious addiction..... send me your postal address, some good chocolate may help ease the condition 

Roma, how lovely to see the well advanced buds on your Hellebore in the background to your Galanthus pix......my Aunt in Muir of Fowlis has hers budding and flowering at this time every year, but even those taken into town won't do the same here!

[mark smyth]

Yes it's the overall shape of the flower that doesnt come across in a photo. It's quite a chunky selection. From the book
'Cambridge' was the first named cultivar of this species ... by it's overall quality. This is a snowdrop of hearty constitution and not fragile in appearance. The outer segments are thickly textured and prominently ridged. The scent, that I havent noticed, perfectly matched wallflowers Erysimum

[Tony Willis]

Maggie only because I have raised them from seed and cannot plant them in the garden because of slugs. I therefore have them in four pots of varied size and shape (the plants not the pots)

I have been to the fridge and eaten a large lump of cadburys fruit and nut

[Maggi Young]

Tony, thank goodness to hear your cogent rationalisation and I concur that fruit and nut is very good in these circumstances. Seed raising is always to be applauded..... if you find a really good slug repellent that doesn't also kill you and the family, please pass it on!  I am hoping for lots of frost this winter to freeze as many of the slugs snails and other chomping plant killers as possible...... Ian seems to be hoping for something similar as this room is currently just over 14 degrees 

[Tony Willis]

So warm! Lesley has been in Hong Kong for a week and I have been living as a fuel poverty pensioner at an average of 11c and no hot water. I only put a bit of heat on when the orchids were looking sad.It was warmer outside in the greenhouse. Kept warm with lots of alcohol. The slugs are still in fine fettle and eating anything and everthing and the damp atmosphere means the botrytis is looking at its best.

[Maggi Young]

Tony, were you and Ian seperated at birth ? I discern many similarities between you two... bet Lesley's jolly happy to be getting some warmth in Hong Kong, bless her!