Stagonospora infection - collected threads

[Martin Baxendale]

Your G. plicatus X gracilis seedlings seem to have very long pedicels ? Is that usual?

Maggi, plicatus as a parent can produce quite long pedicels in seedlings. It's not an uncommon trait of plicatus. It's nice if the pedicel arches elegantly, but sometimes the pedicel sticks out at odd angles and doesn't hold the flower very elegantly, as is happening in the bottom of those two pics I posted together - one of the reasons it's not such a good plant. But still useful for further breeding.

[mark smyth]

David I wish! Just noticed a spelling mistake too

[Paddy Tobin]

Martin,

Love the 'Pelican', great length in the petal and held to show off the trait.

Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

Here's a nice wee list: http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Galanthus.html

[Martin Baxendale]

I've just realized why so many of my snowdrops (and crocus) aren't flowering this year or have tiny flowers and/or scrawny leaves and look like they've really gone back from flowering size bulbs to non-F.S. since last season - the hot spring in 2007!

I was thinking I really need to feed my bulbs 'cos they're all going back to nothing. But then I remembered all the snowdrop leaves wilting and shrivelling up in the heat last spring. Instead of yellowing and slowly dying back, they all just shrivelled up at least a month early, maybe more.

I recall snowdrops still with green seed pods swelling and ripening but no leaves at all. That can't have been good for them. And it was a record seed set too, after the mild winter, so lots of bulbs with no leaves putting all their enegy into making and ripening seeds.

It's a relief to realise there's a reason for it, even if - combined with the effects of the awful weather - it means not much worth seeing this year. Still means I have to feed though. In fact I'm going to pour liquid feed into the clumps, and foliar feed.

I intend watering too if it gets dry this spring. I'm not risking another shortened season's growth. Wierd world! I had to water the reginae-olgae in the autumn to get them to come up and flower, and now I'm planning to water the snowdrops in the spring if I have to. Who used to water snowdrops?!

[Martin Baxendale]

Meant to say, that's another drawback to gardening on a steep south-facing hillside, especially during climate change - heat or drought at the wrong time and my patch turns into a parched desert (the other big drawback being I'm wide open to the constant stream of winter storms we've been getting from the south-west.

Well, at least I'm well-drained - if I wasn't, the stagonophora from the wet summer would probably have been even worse!

[ian mcenery]

Here is one of my Desert Island snowdrops Magnet - yes I know it's common but it is very elegant and easy. Also one of Ian Christies the lovely Yvonne

[Paul T]

Stupid request I know, but if anyone has seed from 'Yvonne' at some point I would love some.  My wife is Yvonne and I realise I will not be able to get the cultivar here in Aus, so the nearest I can get is to have plants "ex Yvonne" growing on.  I must admit that where I find something with a cultivar called 'Yvonne' I do try to buy it, although I have only come across one or two (Freesia springs to mind but I can't remember the second thing I found).

[ian mcenery]

Paul if it sets seed they are yours

[Brian Ellis]

 Just a couple of snowdrops newly out today, Angelique is just about my biggest clump of specials!  Difficult to photograph in the wind, the other is Sandersii group (bought as lutescens).  Hope everyone enjoyed the trip to Colesbourne, I'm looking forward to lots of photos

[ian mcenery]

A couple more The Linns I had as a swap rather nice in a quiet sort of way and Lady Beatrice Stanley doing quite nicely if a little muddy

[ian mcenery]

Now can you experts identify these for me. I am sure both have a little plicatus in their blood the second more that the first. They are plants which I had long ago and labels lost. Maybe well known hybrids. I have given a close up of the flowers to help. See if you throw any light.

[mark smyth]

Brian 'The Linns' isnt a double

[mark smyth]

Galanthus G71 sold for £35 on Ebay an hour ago. Every day I'm blown away by stoopidity but I should did my clump and cash in

[ian mcenery]

Mark what makes you think The Linns I showed was a double?