Galanthus winter 2009/2010

[Diane Whitehead]

I have been searching for a message about buds not opening - I'm sure
I read it recently, but I have searched to no avail.  I won't say the time
was wasted, as I re-read a lot of interesting posts.

I have one bud - the first and only one this year - on one of my crosses.
It has had its nose in the air, still tight inside its spathe, for weeks.  I
can't remember what the previous message said about buds not carrying
on till maturity, but would it be a good idea to pick the stem and bring it
inside.  Would it mature in a vase in a warm place?

[Alan_b]

I quite frequently see snowdrop buds that do not open.  I have always assumed this was due to some check in the development of the bulb that prevented it from putting on enough growth in the autumn.  Under those circumstances it makes sense for the bulb to put all its energies into the leaves so it can renew itself and to abort the flower.  As I live in a dry part of the UK and bulbs in the drier parts of the garden seem more prone to this, I had assumed that the problem was a lack of water.  Victoria B.C. averages about 1.5 times the rainfall of Cambridge UK so lack of water would be less of an issue there.  Perhaps damage to the roots that prevents the bulb from taking up water might have the same effect?  But I must emphasise I have no evidence to back up my conjectures.

In my experience, if you pick the non-opening bud and bring it inside it will sometimes open but usually not.  If you leave it on the plant it will eventually begin to go black and rot away.  At this stage you will probably want to remove the flower stem anyway, so you might as well pick it now and bring it inside.     

[ichristie]

Hi all, you will be pleased to know that I have given some bulbs to trusted friend of G. woronowii Elizabeth Harrison. These friends are from as far South and North as I want to see if the bulbs still produce yellow flowers. I have chipped some bulbs which look o/k and wait for spring to see if they flower. I have also collected some seed from this yellow form and it will be interesting to see what comes up. I have consulted John Richards who has sown seed from the Northumberland yellows the results are most interesting and I do hope that this is written up in his article for the Plantsman.  Elizabeth Harrison may allow me to sell some of these new bulbs but will have to wait to see how many flower if any.  I will keep you posted,  cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Paddy Tobin]

Ian,

I really think you need to test out G. woronowii 'Elizabeth Harrison' in the south-east of Ireland!

Paddy

[mark smyth]

It's a good idea to test the yellow woronowii. nivalis Eccuson d'Or is variable in colour depending on soil type. nivalis Sandersii and plicatus Wendy's Gold vary also.

Compare my Wendy's Gold
http://www.snowdropinfo.com/plicatus-wendys-gold.html
to John Lonsdale's
http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/Plants_album/The%20Plants%20-%20%20Complete%20Collection/Amaryllidaceae/Galanthus/slides/Galanthus%20Wendys%20Gold%200001.html

[Anthony Darby]

What's the difference, apart from the effect the lighting has on the colour?

[mark smyth]

If it is down to light maybe everyone who grows plicatus Wendy's Gold and nivalis Sandersii Group should post photos for comparison

[ichristie]

  Hi, I am sure that growing conditions and soil types plus if bulbs are in shade or full light makes a difference, I post two pictures of the same snowdrop growing in different areas the one with the blue leaves is in a Beech woodland and Beech leafmould contains some natural lime, the two Snowdrops are G. nivalis x G. plicatus but I could also post pictures of G. plicatus with blue leaves from the Beech woodland.  cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[annew]

This is my Wendy's gold - I have to say I can't see any significant differences. The other plant is from a mixed pot from a local garden centre last year. It looks like a gracilis type, and I think it's quite a nice one.

[mark smyth]

Lovely leaves Anne that will look great in a group.

Other variable yellows are Spindlestone and Primrose Warburg

[Maggi Young]

Anne, is that cotton seersucker cutie out now? That was a good find!

[Paddy Tobin]

Nice petals on your snowdrop, Anne; lovely texture.

Re colour variation in different situations: it is certain that photographs may show a difference in colours but it must be realised that this can be as a result of a different white balance in the shots. For genuine comparison, flowers from different situations/conditions need to be brought together and then compared and photographed.

Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

If it is down to light maybe everyone who grows plicatus Wendy's Gold and nivalis Sandersii Group should post photos for comparison

I meant "modifying the colours in the picture", not the actual plant. The two you showed were taken in different light conditions and I could see no difference in colour.

[annew]

Anne, is that cotton seersucker cutie out now? That was a good find!

Just opened today, but it's in a glasshouse. Had to bring it into the kitchen to make it open wide enough to see the inner markings.

[mark smyth]

Anthony have you never been to a garden where Wendy's Gold looks better than yours or maybe yours is a better plant? I have seen many that are superior to mine

These two plants are not showing good yellow