Re: Winter snowdrops

[Maggi Young]

was that a planned cross with your Cambridge? it should be intresting to see what comes of the seedlings if it is a controlled cross (uncontrolled sometimes yields some keepers though!).

Well, that will be a relief to at least 95% of the children I know!

but I think I am going to ask maggi if I can be barred from this forum until after February.

That is not possible, I'm afraid:  the best way is to face the problem head on! 
 

I am getting the impression it will get worse next month.

As galanthophilia is so rampant a condition, yes, it WILL get worse.....

I have an addictive personality, I really, Really shouldn't be encouraged

An addictive personality is practically a requirement for membership here.... that's why you have  become so quickly at home here, Helen!

 Just remember folks, the SRGC helpline is always open.......

           

[maggiepie]

That is not possible, I'm afraid:  the best way is to face the problem head on! 

You mean I hae to eat my porridge?

As galanthophilia is so rampant a condition, yes, it WILL get worse..... Shocked

Well maggi, it could be worse, I do have ONE, but unhappy to say I am not sure whether it is a snowdrop or a snowflake 

An addictive personality is practically a requirement for membership here.... that's why you have  become so quickly at home here, Helen!

You must be right, and how did you know ?

[Maggi Young]

Helen:
 1) Yes, all of it, and porridge is very good for supper also. 

 2) Makes no matter.... for Snowflakes there is Ian Y's special SRGC group, the LeucoJocks, for lovers of Snowflakes/ Leucojums/ Acis, whatever the taxonomists are calling them this week   

3)

   

[maggiepie]

Well now, after doing a search for LeucoJocks, I have discovered that my plants are Leucojums, I am snowdrop deprived.
However, I admit it gives me great pleasure when in flower 

[johnw]

Rob - re: Warham As I'm sure you know this is a notorious snowdrop for mix-ups. I may simply have received the wrong bulb from P&M, possibly another variety altogether.  I will let them know if I get a positive id when it blooms.  All the Galanthus I got from them years ago were excellent.  It's too bad they don't ship to North America anymore as I got many fine fat bulbs from them and they were extremely pleasant to deal with on the phone.

johnw - +1c, that's a fine December day here.

[johnw]

I am snowdrop deprived.

Helen  - I can always get you some Galanthus nivalis from Digby, NS to get you started. The imported ones sold at the garden centres must be purchased within days of their arrival, otherwise once they dry they are generally useless.

Beware however, once you get hooked on Galanthus you will soon feel like you have invested your life savings with Bernie Madoff.  You may not lose the house, but at least you will have the joy of your purchases at the end of winter.

johnw

[David Nicholson]

While the cold weather has meant that flowers last longer on snowdrops, the lack of sunshine here has meant that they were reluctant to open in the garden. Today I took a few indoors so that they would open in the heat and that I might photograph them.

Here are G. 'Castlegar', G. plicatus 'Colossus' and G. elwesii 'Paradise Giant'

Paddy

Although I like Snowdrops I'm not a 'Galanthophile' but I have to say I find 'Castlegar' in particular very beautiful.

[maggiepie]

Hi John, what a great offer.
What time of the year are they sold?
I had my snowdrops and snowflakes reversed.
I 'think' the ones I have are the same as the ones I had in Oz, they grow into lovely big clumps, but after seeing so many I am not sure I could tell the difference if it is only slight.
I grew up calling them snowdrops.

[Brian Ellis]

You may not be a galanthophile but you do have taste David!

Helen, don't let Johnw get you going he's incorrigible, and it will be the start of the slippery slope (most of us have reached the bottom)

Paddy you are way ahead of East Anglia, although all of those mentioned are beginning to show white.

[maggiepie]

Brian, surely just a few couldn't hurt 

[Brian Ellis]

Ah but Helen, that's the way we all started 

[maggiepie]

Well, I could only be half as bad cuz I'm not too fussed on the doubles.
Am I allowed to say that without being tarred and feathered???

[mark smyth]

but Helen, there are some stunning doubles. One of my raised beds used to be for double snowdrops only

[maggiepie]

Mark, which ones do you think are the most beautiful?

[mark smyth]

Barbara's Double and Hill Poe are two. What do the rest of you say?