Galanthus February 2010

[johnw]

Here is a pot of seedlings from my favourite form of G. gracilis. I'm pleased to see that 3 of the 4 bulbs have 2 flowers each.

Anne  - An arresting gracilis.  I've just called for a defibrilator. Thanks for posting one them.  

johnw

[johnw]

Mark - That E. K. Balls is the best woronowii I've seen, smashing.  I hope to get Sibbertoft White this year, it certainly is a beauty.

johnw

[johnw]

Paddy  - Natalie Garton lives up to its reputation, it looks like quite a substantial drop.

johnw

[Hagen Engelmann]

Anne, I also like G. gracilis. You showed us big plants with superb flowers and two scapes. Often the "english" gracilis are only gracilized small plants. Good G gracilis are as fine as good G. elwesii. Sometimes better, because they can get 2-4 flowerscapes.

Paddy, last year I saw first time pics of NATHALIE GARTON. Were does it come from? Is it a Galanthus elwesii. Can you tell us something?

[KentGardener]

Paddy - 'Lady Moore' is a fine looking 'drop.  My new bulb from last year is only leaves this year - but hopefully that means a superb flower to look forward to in 2011.   

Mark - is that Woronowii E. K. Balls a lot bigger than 'normal' garden centre Woronowii.  It looks a goon'un.

[Anthony Darby]

Nice well behaved clump of 'John  Gray' Paddy (note spelling of Gray).

[mark smyth]

woronowii EK Balls is usually short about 7cm 3 inches. This year it is taller than it has ever been possible because a Helianthemum is blocking light. The leaves are very pale green.

[annew]

I brought in these G fosteris to photograph them and discovered they have a wonderful scent. I like the distinctive paddle shape of the outers and the upturned tips of the inners.

[mark smyth]

How tall are your fosteri? Mine are 15 cm

[Gail]

Rannveig Wallis had a display pot of her Galanthus koenenianus x fosteri cross at Loughborough.  The flowers were very similarly marked to the fosteri in Anne's last picture and had also inherited the lovely fragrance.  She had some seedling plants of this cross for sale but they looked quite variable, some just with a single mark.

[Ragged Robin]

Anne, your pot of G fosteris is really unusual looking, thanks for 'bringing it in' showing how it opens out.... and with the bonus of scent it is even more attractive (is it commercially available?)

[Paddy Tobin]

John and Hagen,

G. 'Natalie Garton' certainly seems to have caught your attention. It is, indeed, a lovely snowdrop but I cannot claim to have had the good taste to seek it out as it was sent to me as a very kind gift and is in my care for the time being. It is a double elwesii, a short plant - presently at about 10cm - but has a very nice full shape to the flowers. I must get some more photographs for you if the sun obliges during the day.

John, I'm glad to hear you have a bulb of 'Lady Moore' growing for you and would love to hear how it gets on with you. It is one for which I have a particular fondness as a large clump was given to me by a lady who had received them from Lady Moore herself and had kept them going for over 60 years and was always reluctant to give them to anybody.

Anthony, I have done my spelling corrections. Apologies for the slip-up. 'John Gray' is, indeed, a lovely snowdrop, low-growing and plump flower so that there seems to be a large proportion of white to green in the clump.

Anne, G. fosteri is a lovely plant.

Mark, your 'E.K. Ball' is very nice. Is this the E.K. Ball of the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin?

Paddy

[johnw]

I brought in these G fosteris to photograph them and discovered they have a wonderful scent. I like the distinctive paddle shape of the outers and the upturned tips of the inners.

Another beauty Anne. I grew this species from AGCBC seed (AGCBC96-1106  1/26/97) and planted them out like an idiot.  It is the only species that managed to die outdoors. I don't think it ever flowered.

johnw

[Brian Ellis]

Hagen I got 'Natalie Garton' from Avon bulbs, all they had for background was

"Handsome large flowered hybrid named after a late friend."

I wait to see

[mark smyth]

Natalie is lovely especially with the anthers shining through the base of the inners
This is the inside