Galanthus January 2009

[Maggi Young]

That mark on 'Pat Mason' is one that even I should be able to pick out!  She's very smart.

I too thought that G. elwesii tended to be bigger... or at least taller   types.

That is the nicest pic I've seen of the 'Ecusson d'Or' .....do you mean, Mark, that in real life our eye "sees" the yellow more strongly than the camera picks up?

[Anthony Darby]

I'm wondering if it was 'Trumps' I saw several years ago on 'Gardener's World' in the garden of the chap who had discovered it. Who's listing it this year?

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi, the camera lies all the time. If, for example, the "white balance" it not set appropriately the colours will not appear correctly.

I took some photographs of Rhododendron 'Christmas Cheer' the other day which showed flowers of the very palest pink. A readjustment of the camera settings - something I should have done first - and I had the correct richer pink.

Our eyes, or our brains' interpretation of what our eyes see, can interpret the various appearances of colour. Strong sunlight will give a different colour cast to dull light, to artificial light etc. Our eyes/brain can understand and correctly interpret this but the camera is a simple instrument and just sees it as it is - as it really is and not how we see it.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

'Ecusson d'Or' is looking much better, Mark, although the yellow marks on the outer don't seem terribly bold. Interesting breeding material though and, despite my previous comments about it maybe being a bit over-hyped, I've asked Joe for one so I can try breeding with it. Just hope he's not over-run with people wanting it and quicker off the mark than me.

[mark smyth]

Martin you can get pollen from mine.

I hear a yellow 'Trym' or 'Trym' lookalike has been found. I've asked for a photo so I can show everyone.

[Alan_b]

Alan someone has suggested 'Henham No1' for your snowdrop
http://www.judyssnowdrops.co.uk/Plant_Profiles/plicatus/henham/henham.htm

Hmmm, flowers and longish ovary are close but the leaves are wrong; mine are narrower and a more glaucous green.  I'll try to post a photo showing this when I get the chance.  What makes this a good snowdrop (for me at least) is that it would score high marks for being both prolific and hardy. 

[David Quinton]

I'm wondering if it was 'Trumps' I saw several years ago on 'Gardener's World' in the garden of the chap who had discovered it. Who's listing it this year?

Yes Anthony, you are correct. If I recall this correctly, Matt Bishop discovered it at John Morely's garden and was named following a typographical (is there such a word?) error in an article where Trym was referred to as Trum. The Gardeners' World piece with Joe Swift focused on Matt Bishops collection and included Diggory, Trumps, Primrose Warburg, Amy Doncaster and Blewberry Tart.

I'm not sure if any one is listing it this year. I got mine from Matt Bishop at the Gala last year. I'll have a look through my catalogues and I'll let you know if it is listed.

[KentGardener]

I hear a yellow 'Trym' or 'Trym' lookalike has been found. I've asked for a photo so I can show everyone.

That sounds interesting Mark - I hope you manage to get a photograph to share.

Regards

John

[Martin Baxendale]

Martin you can get pollen from mine.

That would be very useful if you manage to get pollen from it, Mark.

[Martin Baxendale]

Hard to judge from Judy's photograph if Alan's snowdrop is 'Henman No1'

Just to set the record straight, the website is called 'Judy's Snowdrops' in memory of the owner's labrador, Judy. The owner of the website is actually Janet. It's an easy mistake to make if you don't know and you haven't read the homepage where Janet explains. A lovely snowdrop website well worth a thorough look, and worth giving the url here again for anyone who hasn't yet visited:

http://www.judyssnowdrops.co.uk

[Jo]

The sun nearly came through this morning so I took a pic of G. n. Sandersii group. Terrible photo and inners not showing.

Later on as it warmed up I thought I'd try for a better pic. Well this is fun, its having a funny season 
The two flowers which have started to open have 4/5 outer petals. They were normal last year as far as I recall 

[Jo]

Yes, not particularly pretty though. It does have good colour and is quite vigourous. The friend who gave me it has lots of big clumps in her garden. I also have a few from a SW nursery which are much weaker growers. I hope by having 2 sources that they may make little seedlings together 

[mark smyth]

Rob, what about semi permanent raised beds made from railway sleepers or boards?

[Martin Baxendale]

Rob, what about semi permanent raised beds made from railway sleepers or boards?

I was just going to suggest the same thing. A few gravel boards nailed together and filled with compost , sitting on top of the soil, wouldn't really be altering the garden as they could be dismantled and removed in an instant if need be.

[mark smyth]

If it can work for vegetables it can work for bulbs. A woven plastic membrane in the base would stop soil moving out if it's on concrete.