Galanthus February 2011

[KentGardener]

I am making do with a dead bumble bee on a cocktail stick

I think we need a photo of that Emma.   

[Mavers]

Hi Em was the bumblebee already dead before the cocktail stick, ahem, entered the scene?

[mark smyth]

I'm sure some of you own G. e. Michael Myers Green Tipped?

Talking to Michael at the weekend he knew nothing of such a plant

[mark smyth]

Emma, I'll have to report you to the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust! We need all our queens 

[snowdropman]

I'm sure some of you own G. e. Michael Myers Green Tipped?

Talking to Michael at the weekend he knew nothing of such a plant

That is because over time some people who bought Michael's green tip have given it the unofficial name of 'Michael Myer's Green Tip' - this is the snowdrop that Michael was originally selling as G. caucasicus 'Green Tips' (I bought mine from him under this name in 2004). With the redrawing of species names this would now be known as G. elwesii var. monostictus 'Green Tips'

[Martin Baxendale]

What would anyone recommend using for pollination , paint brush or some thing else  ?
I didn't have a paint brush .

 I am making do with a dead bumble bee on a cocktail stick

I use a small (size 2) sable watercolour paintbrush, available from any art shop.

[mark smyth]

or lack of green tips .. I'll relabel mine later

It's a wonderful day here today. Shorts and t-shirt weather. As it's a dry day my snowdrops have been fed, with tomato food, a sparyed with Carbendazim.

the short 4 inch 10cm elegant elwesii I'm trialling with someone else is very prolific. It has increased 8 times since I got 5 bulbs in 2008

[Mavers]

Lucky thing Mark...........dull as dish water here 

[KentGardener]

Today I thought I would try and work out which drop my "not Fieldgate Superb" may be.  

A brief history.....  I ordered 'Fieldgate Superb' from one of the big boys a few years ago - what flowered for me the following year was yellow (which 'Fieldgate Superb' is not!).  It was suggested on the forum that I write to the supplier and ask for the real thing.  My dilemma was that the "not Fieldgate Superb" was doing extremely well and has continued to be one of my best brightest yellowdrops and also one of my best at increasing in number.  Luckily a very kind forum member sent me the real 'Fieldgate Superb' so that problem was taken care of.

Following are a few pictures of some yellows flowering here today - I must admit that I am rather confused and think the time may be fast approaching, over the next few years, where I start trimming down on the number of 'very similar yellows' that I grow - keeping only the ones that have a good colour and have proven to increase well growing in my own gardens particular soil.

1 - firstly my "not Fieldgate Superb" that is doing exceptionally well
2 - 'Primrose Warburg'
3 - 'Spindlestone Surprise'
4 - 'Wandlebury Ring'  (admittedly not in such a bright position)
5 & 6 - a couple of 'Wendys Gold' from different people.


So....... Any ideas on what 'not Fieldgate Superb' might be.

[emma T]

I am making do with a dead bumble bee on a cocktail stick

I think we need a photo of that Emma.   

The bee was very, very dead when i found it in the workshop window sil. I did not kill the bee.  

 I am just recycling its corpse

[KentGardener]

Sitting here laughing out loud like a lunatic!   

[emma T]

 

Well i thought as bees have been pollinating flowers for millenia , it must be better than a paint brush at picking up pollen   

I cant of course clean my bee-stick , so some pollen may remain. So not very scientific but hey ho.

[Mavers]

What better use could there be for a dead bee's backside??   

[Paddy Tobin]

Emma Thick,

You are seriously crazy but a great laugh.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Oh goodness, Emma,

Mary and I are sitting here with the tears running down our faces. You crazy woman!

Paddy