Galanthus February 2010

[johngennard]

I haven't posted any drops before but I took these photos yesterday while photographing the crocus and thought you might like to see them.

galanthus gracilis 004
galanthus gracilis 'Highdown'
galanthus Comet
galanthus Cowhousegreen
galanthus Godfrey Owen
galanthus Magnet
galanthus Primrose Warburg
galanthus Richard Ayres
galanthus Southhayes
galanthus Spindlestone Surprise

[johngennard]

and the rest

galanthus Tubby Merlin
galanthus Wendy's Gold
galanthus White Swan

[Michael J Campbell]

John,I am interested in your labels,is that dymo tape stuck on a plastic label?

[Martin Baxendale]

Some very good clumps of drops there, John. Have you been busy chipping, or is it all natural increase?

The pic of Tubby Merlin doesn't look right, though. The flower shape isn't right for Tubby Merlin, and Tubby Merlin has a paler yellowish-green ovary. Your pic looks more like Mighty Atom or maybe Bertram Anderson, one of that sort of group - a pic of the mark would help decide which. I'd double-check the label.

[johngennard]

John,I am interested in your labels,is that dymo tape stuck on a plastic label?
I stopped using dymo and plastic several years ago now in favour of the Brother electronic labelling machine combined with aluminium strips as illustrated.It is much quicker and more importantly far more durable.The aluminium bends rather than snaps.I get the aluminium cut into strips approx.17mm. x 200mm which affords a good portion in the ground and I use black tape exclusively for the snowdrops.

I can thoroughly reccomend the Brother machine and its tape.

[Michael J Campbell]

Thanks John, I will check it out.

[johngennard]

Martin ,I have checked the label and it confirms Tubby Merlin bought from John Morley in 1998.However,I do not consider myself to be a galanthophile but more a collector and I have never delved into the minutae so I am willing to bow to your doubts so I have coaxed a flower into opening for your expert inspection.
I have only ever chipped once and that was back in 1996 but all of the ones shown have increased by natural multiplication and my own division.I did have very good results from my chipping of six vars.but have never got round to it since.
I look forward to your further observations.

[mark smyth]

I use 8 inch / 20cm black labels with words written with a 1mm white paint marker. They have lasted about 6 8 years so far. I would never have thought I made my raised beds in 2002. Time flies!

[KentGardener]

All of my snowdrops are up but none of them have had good enough weather conditions to open up so they are still in tight bud formation. However today my frogs have appeared in my pond (it was frozen until 2 days ago) so there is hope yet.. Pouring with rain at the moment though.

Funny.  We saw a frog heading for the pond in a garden this afternoon too.

[Martin Baxendale]

John, thanks for the photo showing the mark. As I thought, not Tubby Merlin, which has a green mark up the entire length of the inner segments, not a V-shaped mark as in your photo. Difficult to be 100% sure from a photo, and always better to see the plant in the flesh for an ID, but it looks to me like it could me Mighty Atom, which is what I thought from the flower shape. The mark stains up a little from the middle, but that can happen. I'd suggest labelling it "Might Atom?" until you can  get a more positive ID or manage to compare it with  known Mighty Atom. The other possibility is Bertram Anderson, but it looks more like Atom to me. Sorry O can't be more definite.

[jnovis]

John, Lovely group of Primrose Warburg and Spindlestone surprise + Wendy`s Gold, if you have any spare for sale, please let me know. Jim.

[johngennard]

I have Bertram Anderson and that is taller than this one.I think that Mighty Atom might be right as I did have that in the same area and as you can see by the previous photo.I do have a redundant label for Mighty Atom.Thanks for your observations.

[Paddy Tobin]

John.

It is a delight to see your very healthy and thriving clumps of snowdrops. Many thanks for posting.

Following on the discussion between yourself and Anthony I am posting a photograph of G. 'Tubby Merlin' below for your information. This was taken two years ago. I have not taken a photograph of this one this year.

And a 'Mighty Atom' for comparison.

Paddy

[johngennard]

Thanks for that Paddy,it would seem to confirm Martin's opinion so I must now seek out Tubby Merlin.

[jnovis]

I also use the Brother labelling system. It was on offer at Lidl`s for £12.99. no complaints yet.