Catalogues

[Brian Ellis]

John Morley's North Green Catalogue arrived this morning...interesting to see how many are now put to tender.  Included is the elusive Flocon de Neige (I wonder how much that will go for) and Rupert Golby plus many others.  There is a 'new' snowdrop to celebrate 25 years of North Green Snowdrops too -"Jubilee Green"

[mark smyth]

My postman has been and left no catalogue 

[Anthony Darby]

I think putting these up for tender is a dishonest way of selling these snowdrops. At least on EBay you are bidding for one lot and you can see what the bids are plus they go up in increments. This means if you bid £100 and the next bid is £49, you pay £50 as that is deemed the next increment. We don't even know if that is how this 'auction' works. If someone bids £100 and the next highest is £49, does the first bulb go for £100 and the second £49 and so on? Perhaps the buyers are prepared to get their prize at all costs? We will never know as I have never actually seen the prices for what auctioned 'drops go.

[Brian Ellis]

Yes I have to agree Anthony it is far from satisfactory, and although there were two (which I mentioned above) that I would have liked, you have no idea of what to bid at all.  From what it says I think the sealed bids for each of the (15 different) snowdrops is opened and the highest bidders get the bulbs, if there are two equal bidders and only one bulb the order of arrival comes into play. I understand that, in previous years, some bulbs have gone for quite silly prices.

I must admit to having been pleasantly surprised a couple of years ago, when I purchased some bulbs from an ebay seller, that although I did not have a winning bid I was offered a 'second chance' at the price I bid. It seemed to me a little unfair on the highest bidder that I was able to purchase at a lower price.  I much prefer the "Buy it Now" prices, but you don't often see those.

[mark smyth]

The first year this auction happened the snowdrops sold for last year's Ebay prices

[Eric Locke]

Hi Brian

Just thought I would like to comment on your mention of Ebay Second Chance Offers.
As a seller of Snowdrops and Orchids on Ebay over the past few years ,I often send out these offers.
Although I guess it could be a little unfair to the winning bidder .But to be as fair as possible I usually send out larger plants to those who have paid more . Also I often include extra plants if the bidding has been good (even on s c offers )or for regular bidders .From a sellers point of view this can be a quicker way of selling ones spare plants at possibly a higher price than relisting ,although the take up on these offers is often poor.

 Eric

[Maggi Young]

Is it not sometimes the case that a second chance offer is made because the winning bidder hasn't paid up??

[Tony Willis]

Not much different to comparing the price you paid for your flight with the person sat next to you on a plane.

You may have paid more but you may have wanted it more.

It sounds as if they have adopted the methods used in buying a house in Scotland,no idea what to bid, no idea what its worth, and may be a waste of time.

[Eric Locke]

Hi Maggi

In my experience it is very rare for purchasers of plants to not pay up ! as generally we are an honest bunch.

  Eric

[Brian Ellis]

But to be as fair as possible I usually send out larger plants to those who have paid more . Also I often include extra plants if the bidding has been good (even on s c offers )or for regular bidders

That seems to be more than fair Eric, I hope the other sellers are like yourself.

[Maggi Young]

Hi Maggi

In my experience it is very rare for purchasers of plants to not pay up ! as generally we are an honest bunch.

  Eric

 Well, that's a relief!

 All this talk of ebay  made me think I'd like to share our latest purchase with you.... not a plant, but another of our obsessions, stained glass......


As is often the case with stained glass, the subject is religious, though we are not so inclined, just appreciate the art work!

[KentGardener]

Hi Maggi

this mention of stained glass - I thought ~I would show you a picture of a piece I made a few years ago when doing my ´city and guilds art and design of decorative glass´ certificate.

Regards

John

p.s. has rained for the last three days in Madeira!

[Hagen Engelmann]

Now NORTH GREEN CATALUGUE is here too.

Can somebody help with infos or pics? I`m looking for
all G nivalis named by NGS (site 34) but also for EARLY TO RIZE and TRUMPOLUTE.
Can it be, EARLY TO RIZE is an early flowering G rizehensis?

[Hagen Engelmann]

The net shows RUPERT GOLBY as a drop with yellow ovarium and green apical mark. Is that OK?

[mark smyth]

What I dont agree with is naming snowdrops after an existing snowdrop e.g. Prague Spring, Tall Prague Spring or Green Comet. I would have thought better names could have been found

I have never seen the majority of those you want to see. Blue Peter is lovely. My photo of this is out of focus.