Galanthus January 2011

[steve owen]

So at the conclusion of this thread, is there an accepted authoritative Beth Chatto (if so, growing where?) and is there an accepted authoritative image of it (again, which one?).

[Paddy Tobin]

Well, Steve, I can say, with some confidence, that the definitive 'Beth Chatto' does not reside in my garden and that my photograph above is not an accurate representation of said bulb.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Out of interest, here is a copy of an e-mail sent to the Beth Chatto Nursery this morning. If there is a response, I will post it here.

Paddy


username=Paddy Tobin
usermail=pmtobin@eircom.net
comment=http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6443.msg182771#msg182771

Please refer to the link above where there is a short discussion on Galanthus plicatus 'Beth Chatto'. You will read of my purchase of a  bulb of same from you in 2005 and my delight that after five years of producing only one flower each year it is now showing six flower buds this spring. However, on posting a photograph from last year, other members of the Scottish Rock Garden Forum have pointed out that the bulb I grow is not true to description and is not, in fact, G. 'Beth Chatto' at all.

Can you rectify this for me, please?

Yours Sincerely, Paddy Tobin, Waterford, Ireland

[Brian Ellis]

So at the conclusion of this thread, is there an accepted authoritative Beth Chatto (if so, growing where?) and is there an accepted authoritative image of it (again, which one?).

pp146/7 of the monograph is the answer Steve.  I would think that respected growers like Rod Leeds and Janet Lecore, who have both been growing for some time, are more than likely to have the correct form, and I know that Janet would check on hers regularly to ensure so.  We can only continue looking for it, I have seen it on lists, rarely, but am loathe to part with money unless I know the grower/seller is likely to have the true form....perhaps I am getting too cynical, but money doesn't grow on trees even though it seems like it with ebay prices

[steve owen]

Brian

I agree absolutely. Prices apart, we have got to have certainty that the label against a plant in the garden is accurate - after all, there are too many look-alike named varieties for us to say well, it looks like X" or I think it might be X".

Steve

[Martin Baxendale]

This 'Beth Chatto' picture on a normally reliable German website looks like something else again:

http://www.galanthus-online.de/kultivare-a-d/beth-chatto.html

Janet's looks quite globular, but the mark seems to be pretty thick in the middle while the book says the basal and apical marks should be narrowly joined. It's a pity the pic in the book is so small and doesn't show the mark.

[Brian Ellis]

This 'Beth Chatto' picture on a normally reliable German website looks like something else again:

http://www.galanthus-online.de/kultivare-a-d/beth-chatto.html

Janet's looks quite globular, but the mark seems to be pretty thick in the middle while the book says the basal and apical marks should be narrowly joined. It's a pity the pic in the book is so small and doesn't show the mark.

The plot thickens!  Just a thought, but in a snowdrop like Galanthus 'Deerslot', the best mark is normally only present on one side, would this apply to others Martin?

[Martin Baxendale]

This 'Beth Chatto' picture on a normally reliable German website looks like something else again:

http://www.galanthus-online.de/kultivare-a-d/beth-chatto.html

Janet's looks quite globular, but the mark seems to be pretty thick in the middle while the book says the basal and apical marks should be narrowly joined. It's a pity the pic in the book is so small and doesn't show the mark.

The plot thickens!  Just a thought, but in a snowdrop like Galanthus 'Deerslot', the best mark is normally only present on one side, would this apply to others Martin?

None that I'm aware of, but then I'm far from being the best person to answer that. Hopefully, if the true plant is still around, there might be a better picture in the new book. I guess it might be worthwhile someone asking the people at the Beth Chatto Gardens if they have a photo of he real thing that shows details of the mark.

[kentish_lass]

I have just mailed Beth Chatto nursery and asked for a photo of the real snowdrop G plicatus Beth Chatto.

I had to mail anyway as I had a string cutter without a blade and a Veronicastrum which did not grow last year, so I included my request for the photo within the same email.  I hope to get a reply and I will post the photograph if and when I get one.

The plot thickens.  I thought I had a photo from last year as it was on display but on closer inspection I noted I had taken it of the wrong plant and it was G Armine which was next to it 

Jennie

[ashley]

I had to mail anyway as I had a string cutter without a blade and a Veronicastrum which did not grow last year ...

Good for you Jennie.  All too often I shut up and put up having receiving diseased or misidentified bulbs (not from BC).

[mark smyth]

I spoke to Joe tonight and he says

"Beth Chatto should have a perfect hour glass inner mark that is never two marks"