The ebay season begins....... ( includes ikariae/ woronowii comparisons)

[mark smyth]

That person on Ebay cant spell either. I smell a rat.

Wol did say chips well fed can flower in two years and some do take a year out. Some cultivars can take forever to grow. He used an example but I cant remember what one. Martin you will have to ask him at the Gala

[Martin Baxendale]

Thanks for the offer, Paddy. I placed an order with a grower for three 'Compton Court' to give it a try (I like the sound of "vigorous grower" when compared to Arnott and I also read that it often produces two scapes per bulb) so I'll see if I get my bulbs from them. If not, I'll get in touch with you.

I also hope that high ebay prices won't affect the level of generosity amongst snowdrop growers generally. But I suspect it may be bound to have some effect on how freely rare bulbs circulate. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Anthony Darby]

I don't think it will have a negative effect on those of us who swap. It may just push up the prices for those that are on sale, but then again it may not? Consider this: how many can you sell at these prices on Ebay compared to the numbers that can be sold at galas etc? Perhaps the really rare will always be dear due to their scarcity? This can't always be the case, and interest may decline once they become more readily available?

[Martin Baxendale]

I don't think it will have a negative effect on those of us who swap. It may just push up the prices for those that are on sale, but then again it may not? Consider this: how many can you sell at these prices on Ebay compared to the numbers that can be sold at galas etc? Perhaps the really rare will always be dear due to their scarcity? This can't always be the case, and interest may decline once they become more readily available?

But will they become more readily available? Where's the incentive for a grower to propagate decent quantities to sell at say £20 each if they can sell four or five a year at £150?

I realize it won't affect swaps, except that those selling for high prices on ebay will require a much rarer swap than before their monetary value went up. I just think people may think twice about giving away bulbs as gifts to visitors if the gift has suddenly acquired a very high monetary value. Which I think would be a shame.

I agree with you that in the long run a grower can't expect to sell large quantities at these inflated prices, and I'd think it's better for a nurseryman and for the customers in the long run if good stocks are built up to sell at reasonable prices. Otherwise, snowdrop prices just become another unsustainable bubble. But my main concerns is that very lovely snowdrops may never get into  wider circulation.

[Mavers]

Sorry if I've missed this dear friends but what did 'Rosemary Burnham' go for in the end on the bay?

[Brian Ellis]

£135 

[steve owen]

Bonjour mes amis

Could someone hazard a guess as to the identity of this potful? Bought at the AGS Spring Show, labelled "nivalis"!

[Alan_b]

Bonjour mes amis

Could someone hazard a guess as to the identity of this potful? Bought at the AGS Spring Show, labelled "nivalis"!

Woronowii.  Always woronowii.

[Alan_b]

The seller is offering 'Flocon de Neige' which doesn't look right and is in Edinburgh. The last not-Flocon was also in Edinburgh.

The seller has also been an ebay member since 2 Feb 2009, about the day we "outed" the person seemingly selling the fake 'Flocon de Neige' using Mark's photo of a genuine one.   

[Brian Ellis]

Alan we are supposed to be coming to Anglesey Abbey tomorrow, what's it like over there now?

[vivienr]

I saw large quantities of Woronowii on sale in a big Northumberland garden centre at the new year, all labelled as nivalis. It surprised me as I would have thought they could have charged more if they labelled them correctly. My local Morrisons is selling correctly labelled Elwesii but they are very sad-looking specimens.

[Alan_b]

I saw large quantities of Woronowii on sale in a big Northumberland garden centre at the new year, all labelled as nivalis...

Which is why I said Steve's snowdrops were woronowii; these are readily available in garden centres and often labelled nivalis.  Of course, I cannot possibly tell from the photo that it isn't ikariae but that seems most unlikely.

[Alan_b]

Alan we are supposed to be coming to Anglesey Abbey tomorrow, what's it like over there now?

At the moment we have light rain.  There is still a lot of snow on gardens and fields but hopefully the Anglesey Abbey snowdrops are in a sheltered location and will be okay.  If I were you I would call first to confirm they are open as usual.

[David Quinton]

Alan we are supposed to be coming to Anglesey Abbey tomorrow, what's it like over there now?

Brian,

It's raining and the snow is steadily fast. Unfortunately we have been warned of heavy rain/snow overnight.

David

Edit...Alan just beat me to it.

[Anthony Darby]

whats this on ebay? -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=170300789906&Category=16087&_trksid=p3907.m29&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D1

is this an actual nivalis cultivar? or another fake.

reminds me more of worroniwii

rob

I see the fake 'Flocon' (click link and check seller's other items) on Ebay is now at £30.!