Galanthus February 2010

[Anthony Darby]

Ah. My 'Curly' is still in tight bud.

[cycnich]

Ordinary but lovely in the sunshine:
G. nivalis
G. nivalis Flore Pleno

Sunshine, what is that?

[annew]

Can you show us the leaves, Wim?

[Gail]

Rod and Jane Leeds (who will be familiar to many AGS members) had their garden open for snowdrops on Sunday - so many wonderfully grown varieties it makes your head spin.  I didn't take many pics as was there with my family but particularly eyecatching were G. elwesii 'Richard Ayres' and G. elwesii 'Selborne Green Tips'.  The third pic is not a snowdrop but I'm sure that even ardent galanthophiles will like it - Clematis urophylla.

[KentGardener]

Thanks for the pictures Gail.  If only I had known you were there I would have introduced myself along with 4 other forum members that I know were there too.

I love G. Richard Ayres.  I think it is one of 'those drops' that stands out from the crowd and you can spot what it is from 20 paces.  

Here are a few snaps I took on Sunday.

1 - 'South Hayes'

2 - Ronald Mackenzie  (I didn't think I wanted this - but seeing it in the flesh... wow    Unfortunately the photograph does not capture the wonderful egg yolk yellow.  And the flowers are so big compared to all the yellows I have).  Does anyone know if it is easy to grow - or is it of an iffy disposition?

3 - Not a great picture - but look at the leaves on this elwesii! 'Huttlestone'

4 - 'Priscilla Bacon'

5 - 'Rosie'

6 - Two cats

7 - An owl

[WimB]

Anne,

here's a picture of the leaves:

[Brian Ellis]

Well Gail I wish I had known you were there too.  I hope to meet you on Saturday instead?  We loved the Clematis urophylla too.

[Gail]

Apparently I just missed the Kent contingent - we got there about 2.30ish.  I will be at Claire Austin's nursery in Shropshire on Saturday - a Peony Society propagation workshop.  Anyone going to Harlow for the AGS show on the 27th?

[ashley]

... Here are a few snaps I took on Sunday.  ... 5 - 'Rosie'

Fine pictures John and everyone.  Thank you for bringing us along with you. 

Is 'Rosie' worthwhile as a general garden plant and can anyone recommend a source? 
If possible I'd like to get hold of one for my daughter, also Rosie. 

[KentGardener]

Alas Ashley I have never seen one in the flesh before so imagine it is rather exclusive at the moment.  

How old is your Rosie?  Perhaps she can have one for her 21st?  Or 40th?........  

[ashley]

Alas Ashley I have never seen one in the flesh before so imagine it is rather exclusive at the moment. 

Perhaps she can have one for her 21st? 

Thanks John.  I'll aim for that then (several years off ).

Or 40th?........ 

Obviously I'm in more urgent need of whatever Maggi & Mark are on

[RichardW]

lovely day today, shame it wont last so ran round with camera after lunch, things open in the garden for a change.

aconites & nivalis.
nivalis under Cotinus & the courtyard.
Diggory, just needed a little more sun.
garden find.
x valentinei
nivalis growing through cyclamen.
top of the moat.
enjoying the sunshine!

[snowdropman]

Is 'Rosie' worthwhile as a general garden plant and can anyone recommend a source? 
If possible I'd like to get hold of one for my daughter, also Rosie. 

Ashley - 'Rosie' is a very nice form - like many snowdrops, it looks particularly good when it clumps up, which 'Rosie' does very quickly because it is an extremely vigorous snowdrop (I acquired a single flowering bulb in 2008 and this year I have 15 flowers!).

As it happens, timing is everything and you are in luck as I am just about to dig up my 'Rosie', because I have noticed that one of the plants has 5 outer petals, instead of the normal 3 and I want to isolate this plant to see if it does the same thing next year!

So, if you pm me with your address, I will send you a bulb for your daughter.

[mark smyth]

Some of you are so lucky at this time of year to be shooting off to snowdrop events

Rosie - where did I put mine - is/was available from Colesbourne last year or the year before

Best advise I got at the Gala this year - when you get a new/unusual snowdrop twinscale it and when they flower twinscale half again.

Richard your x val looks just like my find over here. That's it as my avatar

[art600]

Anyone going to Harlow for the AGS show on the 27th?

I will be at Harlow on the 27th.  If you are early I will be on the AGS plant stall.