Galanthus January 2012

[TC]

If you do not need only the snow drop specials, than your nature looks fantastic.
I like these white spring carpets under old trees.
The sun is shining, the air is a little bit warm, but only in the sun
and there is only silence around you with only some birds.
This is galanthus time.
And there is some smell in the air, like honey.
And you are happy!

So it is in Fullarton Woods, or???

The wood is about 10 hectares and apart from some large beech trees at the edges it consists of some conifers and other self generated species.  The main part of the wood is not managed.  Any trees that fall are left to rot and the undergrowth is full of brambles and wild roses which make it inpenetrable from Spring onwards - ideal for birds.
On our walk today we saw a couple of buzzards flying about.  In the open fields next to the woods we saw Greylag, Pinkfeet, Eurasian Whitefront ,  Greenland White front and Taiga Bean Geese all feeding together.  Near them a flock of Lapwings and Pectoral Sandpiper which is spending the Winter with us.  A nice day out

[Alan_b]

Looks absolutely lovely, Tom, and with birdwatching too.  Does your westerly location mean that the snowdrops are ahead of the typical Scottish ones?

[kentish_lass]

Tom - what beautiful photographs they would make lovely cards.  Now what amazes me is that no-one ever lifts and divides these snowdrops in nature but they look dense and floriferous.....whereas in my borders the older clumps of nivalis are dying out where they are desperate for division ?  Any explanations for this?

Sean - thanks for the ebay link - I will follow it's progress.

I have been lifting lattice pots for inspection today with mixed results - sadly this post needs to be finished in the RIP section  

I am also finding flower heads missing and they are usually laying on the ground nearby - we do not have pheasants in the garden anymore.  Eranthis heads are laying everywhere too - grrrr - as if snowdrop growing is not challenging enough.

Jennie

[Alan_b]

... what amazes me is that no-one ever lifts and divides these snowdrops in nature but they look dense and floriferous.....whereas in my borders the older clumps of nivalis are dying out where they are desperate for division ?  Any explanations for this?

Possibly in the forest the soil is much lighter (leaf mold essentially) and this allows clumps to push outwards?

Possibly there is a natural cycle whereby a clump forms, the bulbs get overcrowded, some are forced to the surface and get knocked or blown to a new location, many die but then the process repeats itself so a big spread of snowdrops develops after many years?   

 

[ian mcenery]

here are a few starting to flower  in he garden today


sandersii
Primrose Warburg which is not really up and running yet
Mighty Atom

[johnw]

You certainly do a smashing job on the yellows Ian.

Is your soil slightly acidic?

Also have to ask if that is the Christie Sandersii?

johnw

[Peppa]

Wow, what nice clumps of yellows, Ian!

I'm a sucker for yellows; I wish they were easily available in the USA...

[ian mcenery]

You certainly do a smashing job on the yellows Ian.

Is your soil slightly acidic?

Also have to ask if that is the Christie Sandersii?

johnw

John

Yes slightly acidic. My soil ph is about 6.5 and yes I had it from Ian some years ago. This sandersii is one of my favourites.

[TC]

Alan
I have not been inland this Winter but the west coast - at sea level -usually flowers sooner than inland areas.   I can even see the difference in my garden 3 miles from the sea.  Down at sea level shrubs such as Camellias flower about 5 days earlier.  I presume the snowdrops will follow the same pattern

Jennie
The wood is well used by locals and there are some houses next to the woods.  Any attempt to lift the bulbs would be seen and provoke a furious reaction.  The snowdrops are not managed and have bulked up over the decades.  Some clumps have up to 50 bulbs and look totally healthy.  They must like the soil where they are growing as areas next to them are never colonised. 
As far as I can see, the soils is medium loam with leaf mold added from the trees with a plentiful supply of rain water.  Single bulbs can be seen lying on the surface so I presume they will root and form new clumps

[Alan_b]

TC, I've got the "Top Cat" theme tune stuck in my head now, because of you!

[Warren Desmond]

here are a few starting to flower  in he garden today


sandersii
Primrose Warburg which is not really up and running yet
Mighty Atom

Beautiful set of images Ian...they look happy & healthy...

Warren

[KentGardener]

Nice clumps of yellow Ian.  Do you split the bulbs sometimes or are they naturally spreading out?


Those pictures from the woods cheer me up whenever I look at them.

[Jo]

In the greenhouse where its nice and sheltered some big green innered snowdrops are in flower.

Cicely Hall
Fieldgate Superb
Melanie Broughton

There's not much to separate them from just the flower !

[Brian Ellis]

Three super snowdrops Jo, I must follow your example and keep a few in the greenhouse.  Especially the highly scented so you don't have to face Mecca to smell them

[mark smyth]

Does everyone grow Lord Monostictus? Its fabulous in a group. I divided mine last summer. Wendys are very small this year. I divided them also