Stagonospora infection - collected threads

[Alan_b]

I have been growing reginae olgae in my garden for about 8 or 9 years now.  Slugs or snails (I presume) will eat the flower buds as they emerge but by the time the leaves come through the bugs seem to have gone into winter hibernation and lost their appetite.  Twice, however, I have lost whole clumps of this snowdrop from one year to the next with no trace of the bulbs to be found. 

I have some close to the south-west facing wall of my house under a wisteria which bulked-up very well initially but seems to have come to a halt as the wisteria has grown and their locale has probably got drier.  Further along the same wall I have some more under a climbing hydragea that are doing well.  I also have some in a more shaded location and these did badly this year with few flowers and the leaves emerging late, small and splayed as if the bulbs had sunk an inch or two and were struggling to emerge.

I guess the most important lesson is that these bulbs don't seem to mind a location that is warmer and drier than is said to suit a typical snowdrop.  But then I had some G. plicatus right next to them that also did well in this warmer drier location.

By the way, I am also expecting to receive the varieties of reginae-olgae you mentioned shortly.  I guess we are swapping with the same person.   

[Paul T]

Ian,

Thanks for the seed offer.  Fingers crossed.  I would have thought that your "The Linns" was a double as well from your picture.  There look to be extra petals peaking out from the edge of the inner petals, particularly the second flower from the right, half way down the picture.  You can just see a smaller petal poking out to the left of the main inner petal.  So it isn't a double?

Brian,

Love those fangs on 'Angelique'  Very nice markings.

[Anthony Darby]

I'm finally losing it! Lyn changes to Yvonne and two posts vanish. Braved a howling gale this evening to check what has surved the weather, builders, slugs (which ain't bugs ), unidentified effing objects etc. Castle Green coming through and Colossus is out. The Linns (nothing like that above and from Evelyn herself) is also out but Hill Poe and Brian Spence are still in tight bud.

[mark smyth]

Ian the big give away is the lack of an ovary

[Maggi Young]

Be calm, Anthony, have some chocolate.  Ian edited the mistaken name and I thought leaving the comments would be confusing to others so I took them out......  I was overcome with some uncharacteristic housework urge to be tidy

[ian mcenery]

Paul I see what you mean but it is definitely only a single. Its description in the snowdrop bible says it is dumpy so that may explain this feature

[ian mcenery]

Mark I see what you mean but it is still nly single 

[Alan_b]

... slugs .. ain't bugs  

I guess you're right  And they're not even creepy crawlies, since they neither creep nor crawl.  I was struggling to find a common name to encompass slugs and snails and other insects that might be liable to take a bite out of my bulbs.  Perhaps there isn't one?

[KentGardener]

I was struggling to find a common name to encompass slugs and snails and other insects that might be liable to take a bite out of my bulbs.  Perhaps there isn't one?

I am sure Maggi will come up with a suitable collective noun!....

[Alan_b]

For the benefit of Rob (Robsorchids) who complained a while back that his Mrs Thompson was too normal, here is a picture of the one I have (with, unfortunately, my signature bits of dirt and grit from too much recent rain).  It has five outer petals, although the fifth one round the back is barely visible in the photo.  You can see from the crease in the ovary that it is really two flowers fused together.

[mark smyth]

Ian the front one almost has an ovary. Do you have a cat digging in the garden? I see soil thrown over the emerging leaves

[ian mcenery]

Mark I do have a cat but the dressing is compost (from the heap) recently spread. The whole garden gets its covering about this time.

I will have a closer look today re the ovaries strange inteesting hadn't noticed this before

[Anthony Darby]

I'm beginning to despair. Last night I saw a bulb of 'Grumpy' go for over £20 on ebay. I need to bulk up my specials so I have some worthy ones to exchange.

[mark smyth]

I have an idea Anthony - cancel the extension and no exotic holidays in 2008 or do what I'm doing. I'm saving £2 coins in a big jar.

[Anthony Darby]

Doesn't work like that Mark.