Snowdrops in February 2012

[JimF]

Jim  - How do you do with the yellows and which do you consider the best?

johnw

My experience with yellows is modest, though others in the Pacific NW have longer experience with them. I would say overall we here have mixed success.

I think 'Lady Elpinstone' the best as she just keeps on going, even running - yes running - into a friend's path having to be dug out every so often. Galanthus in her garden do tend to move forming stolons, which we've seen and photographed. I've seen it in plants in my own pots and in another garden. John Grimshaw had a post on his blog a while back about this phenomena.

I grow 'Primrose Warburg', a "Sandersii Group", 'Lady Elphinstone', 'Wendy's Gold' but it's cabbagey wavy foliage overwhelms the consistently small flowers, and 'Spindlestone Surprise' which seems weak. It's original source clump at a friend's up and died last year. Stag? Narcissus fly? Impertinence?

Coloration varies here, too. I find the greenish/olive tint evaporates when the flower is viewed in full sun. Move a picked flower to light shade and the color is no longer yellow but in the greenish tones. A hint to plant where the sun is behind them during visiting hours.

In all, they grow here, but only 'Lady E.' seems robust and reliable so far.

Jim

[JimF]

I don't know Oluna's Mother, can you tell us something about it. . . . JohnW

Here's what I've just learned about it:

'Oluna’s Mother’s’ aka ‘Oluna’s Early Form' aka ‘Aluna’s Mother’ was given by Oluna Ceska to Rick Wagner in Portland, Oregon. It's been passed around with those names attached to it, though the first one seems to be sticking.

Oluna Ceska got it from her mother, hence the name, who lived in the village of Vraz near Prague, Czech Republic. "Mother" got the plants from two men who were her neighbors in the village and are now deceased. It's unknown if it was a named Czech galanthus or just something special the two gentlemen had. Inquiries to a Czech person who might know have never been answered.

Perhaps a Czech member reading this will recognize it.

Rick said it's a good doer, makes a nice clump, and looks great every year. I agree.

Jim

[annew]

I suppose the ovaries should be removed to stop seedlings.

Why would you do that? Collect the seeds and sow them. Save the genes!

[WimB]

Some Snowdrops in flower here now.

Galanthus 'Magnet'
Galanthus 'Straffan'
Galanthus 'Barbara's double'
Galanthus nivalis 'Maximus'
Galanthus nivalis 'Melanie S.'
Galanthus nivalis 'Flore pleno'
Galanthus 'White Cloud'
Galanthus x valentinei
Galanthus plicatus 'Augustus'

[johnw]

Jim - I haven't tried Spindlestone Surprise here but otherwise your experience with the yellows is pretty much duplicated here.  

Good to hear the story of Oluna's Mother.   Every snowdrop story is interesting and seems to end with an important unanswered question eh?

johnw

[Webster008]

Some Snowdrops in flower here now.

Hello Wim,

Lovely pictures, really like Gal Maximus.

Looking at the pictures I see you are also a fan of Epimedium

[WimB]

Hallo Rick,

een beetje laat, maar toch nog welkom op dit leuke forum.
(a bit late, but still: welcome to this nice forum.  )

I'm an Epie-fan indeed, as you can see here: 

http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6992.0
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=630.0
http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=346.0

   

[Maren]

I'm quite new to growing snowdrops seriously, so need some help please. My G. Jonathan is somewhat floppy, leaves not as turgid as the others and flower stem drooping. Could this be a sign of dryness at the roots? I have received this one only quite recently 'in the green' so have been careful with watering.

[johnw]

Wim - I 've had my eye on Melanie S. for quite some time. It's a lovely chunky nivalis. Is it commonly available in Belgium?

johnw

[WimB]

Wim - I 've had my eye on Melanie S. for quite some time. It's a lovely chunky nivalis. Is it commonly available in Belgium?

johnw

It's not yet very common. I bought it from Valentin Wijnen (who selected this form)! You can find his profile on this forum!

[johnw]

Wim - I 've had my eye on Melanie S. for quite some time. It's a lovely chunky nivalis. Is it commonly available in Belgium?
johnw

It's not yet very common. I bought it from Valentin Wijnen (who selected this form)! You can find his profile on this forum!

Wim  - I think I saw his photo of Melanie S. some time ago whilst struggling through the Vlaamse Rotsplanten Vereniging. Does he have a nursery?

johnw

[Alan_b]

My G. Jonathan is somewhat floppy, leaves not as turgid as the others and flower stem drooping. Could this be a sign of dryness at the roots?

It is probably a sign that water is lacking but it could also indicate that the roots have been damaged or have succumbed to pest or disease.

[mark smyth]

I agree with Alan get some water round the roots. Your bulb needs to stay healthy until it goes dormant.

Anyone got any ideas about a foliar feed for new aquisitions?

[WimB]

Wim - I 've had my eye on Melanie S. for quite some time. It's a lovely chunky nivalis. Is it commonly available in Belgium?
johnw

It's not yet very common. I bought it from Valentin Wijnen (who selected this form)! You can find his profile on this forum!

Wim  - I think I saw his photo of Melanie S. some time ago whilst struggling through the Vlaamse Rotsplanten Vereniging. Does he have a nursery?

johnw

John,

he doesn't have a nursery but he sells at snowdrop events and he sends dormant bulbs in Summer.

[Lina Hesseling]

You can also find him in de list of suppliers in Snowdrops. Look for Grakes Heredij.

Lina.