Snowdrops in February 2012

[jamouatt]

For reference Alan confirmed with Bill Clark that the correct spelling should be Bill Clark and not Bill Clarke.

[Martin Baxendale]

For reference Alan confirmed with Bill Clark that the correct spelling should be Bill Clark and not Bill Clarke.

That's an unfortunate mistake. It's been so widely published as 'Bill Clarke'.

[Carolyn Walker]

I had to look very hard to see this but above the main yellow mark on the inner petal there seems to be two faint yellow dots.  Those would be the "eyes" Mark referred to and they are not (AFAIK) a normal feature of Wendy's Gold.

In fact the whole shape of the mark looks wrong, something like this http://www.snowdropinfo.com/plicatus-wendys-gold.html is typical (i.e. larger, fuller, not shaped like an inverted heart).

I will have to look into this.  The photo was from last year.  It is blooming now and I will look again and talk to Charles.  In the meantime, here are two more photos from last year.  The first is of the same plant and the second is my other plant.  any further guidance is appreciated but no one need fear that I am selling this---I only wish I had that many:

[Alan_b]

Carolyn, I think the first photo is the same one you showed earlier.  I cannot see any "eyes" on the second photo but the main mark is still wrong

Thanks, John, for reminding us about the spelling of Clark.  I blame that Mark Smith and his snowdropinfo web site! 

[mark smyth]

I thought Bill Clark also. Both photos above have eyes. I no longer have Bill so maybe someone can go outside to have a look

[Martin Baxendale]

Carolyn, your plant has a long thin ovary, also like 'Bill Clark(e)'. The ovary of 'Wendy's Gold is shorter and rounder. You'll see this if you compare the pics from Mark's web site of the two...

http://www.snowdropinfo.com/plicatus-wendys-gold.html

http://www.snowdropinfo.com/plicatus-bill-clarke2.html

[daveyp1970]

Has anybody notice the faint green mark on the end of the petals on Carolyn yellow

[mark smyth]

Do you now  

You need to go to Specsavers  

[Martin Baxendale]

Carolyn, I think the first photo is the same one you showed earlier.  I cannot see any "eyes" on the second photo but the main mark is still wrong

Thanks, John, for reminding us about the spelling of Clark.  I blame that Mark Smith and his snowdropinfo web site! 

It's spelt 'Bill Clarke' in "Snowdrops".

[mark smyth]

I saw the 'yellow' tips also but thought it was stag.

[Maggi Young]

I can see pale eyes in Carolyn's second photo :  pic DSCN2556.  
They are very pale, wide apart and high up... but they are there!

[mark smyth]

Bill Clark
Wendy's Gold

[snowdropman]

It's spelt 'Bill Clarke' in "Snowdrops".

Martin - the 2006 Reprint of 'Snowdrops' carries the correction

[Brian Ellis]

"The Snowdrop, in purest white array, First rears her head on Candlemas day."

Today is Candlemas, marking the mid point of winter (I always think it should be Feb 14th) half way between the shortest day and the spring equinox; and they used to say that the Christmas season lasted for forty days - until February 2nd.  The first snowdrop reared its head months ago, but in honour of the occasion I went outside with my camera to take a few snapshots.  As it is bitterly cold there are some general shots and one or two where you can’t see the inners as they are being very sensible and huddling up!

1 Firstly what remains of a snowdrop bed by the side of the house, the only ones left here are ‘Doris Page’, ‘Yamanlar’ , ‘Martha MacLaren’, ‘Heffalump’, ‘Peardrop’, the clump going over is ‘Henham No 1’ and in the foreground ‘Longstowe’.
2 ‘Heffalump
3 ‘Gerard Parker’
4 The area where the fenceposts were replaced next door.  It took a whole morning to sort out the clematis and get it back on the fence and several parts of this bed are compressed with footprints.
5 The delightful ‘Anglesey Abbey’

[Brian Ellis]

6 ‘Benton Magnet’ - needing attention later in the year
7 Still one of my favourites ‘Lapwing’
8 One of the first areas planted which needs a good sorting out, here are the likes of ‘Comet’, ‘Green Man’, ‘Bungee’, ‘Lode Star’, ‘Lady Elphinstone’ etc etc
9 The very floriferous ‘Homersfield’ from Mike & Anne Broadhurst
10 A Greatorex find SA 0902 which has one flower above another, unfortunately this makes for a very confused picture!