Galanthus in November 2011

[bulborum]

Easy to recognise by the leaves
grey/blue

Roland

[johnw]

re: Peter Gatehouse  The only place I have tried it that it didn't like was a rather cold spot.

Alan  - What exactly do you mean by "a rather cold spot"?  Are you suggesting it is not winter hardy or just simply doesn't like a cool dank shady spot?

I don't know how these autumn flowerers would do here, losing dormancy and then having to go through 3 or more months of frozen hell.  Certainly nivalis can show leafage and buds in the autumn here and then survive winter without missing a beat, there may be hope.

johnw

[Alan_b]

In a good position Peter Gatehouse will grow large broad leaves that are quite attractive in their own right after the flowers have gone.  A year or two ago I visited the Suffolk garden of a famous bulb expert (who we will call "R.L") and I noted his Peter Gatehouse were looking weak and feeble by comparison to mine.    He had them in a shady spot whereas mine get full sun.  In my experience Peter Gatehouse needs a sunnier position (that perhaps gets hotter in summer) than a typical snowdrop in order to thrive.  It is perfectly winter-hardy in the UK.     

[bulborum]

I overlooked a bulb in the garden this summer
from Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. reginae-olgae Calabria
now popping up in-between the Helleborus leaves
This was a collection from a colleague who visited Calabria near Sicily

Roland

[johnw]

Thanks for the explanation Alan.  I guess after this past summer even anything with elwesii blood should go into a sunny spot here on the coast.  One can only pray the bulbs have survived the tremendous rains.

The first snowdrop G. reginae-olgae from a German friend opened this morning after a cold night.  That was the first frost to date and was badly needed to harden things off as the next week promises to be very mild.  No sign of Cambridge emerging in the garden.

johnw   -  sunny and 11C.

[mark smyth]

I just noticed I have flower buds above ground of The Pearl, Faringdon Double and one with a missing label

[Alan_b]

My local Garden Centre has a small number of G. elwesii in full flower.  Have these somehow been brought on early or are they just early-flowering selections?

[mark smyth]

I would ask them. Some very early flowerers would be great.

Anyone know a source for Autumn Beauty that does mail order?

[loes]

I would ask them. Some very early flowerers would be great.

Anyone know a source for Autumn Beauty that does mail order?

mine came from Broadleigh a few years ago

[RichardW]

another r.olgae, only had it a few years and seems vigorous, flowers about a month later than the rest I have here, think it originated from Turkey.

[bulborum]

Anyone know a source for Autumn Beauty that does mail order?

There where about 20 at Wisley Garden centre yesterday

Roland

[Maggi Young]

I have G. 'Fieldgate Prelude' about to open a flower.... is this very early?

[mark smyth]

Mine are below ground.

While chatting about the Gala on the phone just now something white caught my eye. Three Ships is up with the first flower free of the sheath but still vertical

[KentGardener]

I have G. 'Fieldgate Prelude' about to open a flower.... is this very early?

Hi Maggi

That does seem early for 'oop north' - I would guess mine are about 2 weeks from flowering.

John

[Maggi Young]

John, I only got it this year so perhaps it is just enthusiastic and  keen to impress!