Galanthus in January

[Carolyn Walker]

Lovely photos from everybody.  Only a few in flower here but plenty nosing through.  Sadly many flowers are getting nibbled by slugs.....all you need after waiting all year to see them    I never use slug pellets ....any ideas on an alternative?

Jennie, I don't have problems with slugs eating snowdrops, but to keep them away from my lettuce I use playground sand because it's sterilized.  They don't like to crawl over anything sharp so I surround the plants with a circle of sand.  Since you aren't eating your snowdrops, a better alternative is chicken or turkey grit, which is available at feed supply stores here.  It is even rougher and doesn't wash away as easily as sand.

Carolyn

[Mavers]

I use the organic slug pellets from 'Growing Success'  that contain iron phosphate Jennie.

It has made a world of difference as I find it soooooooo disappointing to wait all year for a special snowdrop to bloom only to have it spoiled by little slugs.

Here's the blurb.........

Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer is an important breakthrough in slug control, with many environmental benefits:

It will only kill slugs and snails. There is no secondary poisoning of birds or hedgehogs etc. and they are completely safe even if they eat the pellets so long as the product has been used as directed.
It is based on ferrous phosphate (iron phosphate - which is an organic compound) plus a bait, thus making it attractive to slugs and snails.
The slugs and snails are attracted to the bait, ingest the pellets and then crawl away to die, leaving no dead slugs or snails around and no unsightly slime. Any bait not eaten breaks down rapidly to iron and phosphate nutrients as part of garden soil.
It is safe to handle and apply
It can be used safely around ornamentals, fruits and vegetables
It is suitable for organic gardening

[Mavers]

Thanks Steve for the info about Moreton Mill.

[Brian Ellis]

Does anyone growing Ron Mackenzie, Margaret Biddulph or Witchwood have any signs of life yet? I was over the moon to see Cider with Rosie coming through the ground...whew.  I read David Quinton's book last night and he mentioned how hard he found that one to grow.  A beautiful book which I have been saving to read during snowdrop season.  Will read it again and again.

Margaret Biddulph and Witchwood are barely through here Jennie, and Witchwood like a thin blade of grass so no flower this year!  I must admit I keep dipping into David's book and will miss him around during the season.  Katherine is hoping to attend at least one snowdrop event and seems to be catching the bug, why it didn't manifest itself when David was alive we'll never know!

[kentish_lass]

Thanks Mike and Carolyn for your ideas to repel slugs....it's not a problem I have had before and is due to this mild, wet winter we are having.  I am going to start with sand and grit and if that don't work I will be forced to try the organic bait.  I have never used anything to kill slugs in nearly 20 yrs of gardening and just live with the odd leaf being gnawed ...but eating my snowdrops is a serious crime 

Thanks for the feedback on the two snowdrops Brian.....I don't hold out much hope as I don't seem to have the knack with tiny bulbs in lattice pots.  Add to that the non stop rain....but fingers crossed.  So happy to see Hugh Mackensie coming back this year as that was a tiny bulb and never flowered last year.  Although I have already had losses this year from bulbs rotting....I am very happy to see that older lattice pots that are sunk in the bed are really bulking up nicely now  . I am getting there!

[chasw]

Brian it would be nice to see Katherine out and about during snowdrop season

[art600]

I was given a bulb of Miss Wilmott for a special birthday last year.

It is now showing 3 scapes - waiting patiently for the flowers.

[David Nicholson]

I was given a bulb of Miss Wilmott for a special birthday last year.

21 were you Art?

[steve owen]

Is Miss Willmott ghostly or just a whiter shade of pale? (Don't spend time on this if you are young).

[Lina Hesseling]

 ???Oh yes! Procal Harem! Great music.

Are you traveling to Nettetal this year, Steve?

Lina.

[Carolyn Walker]

I have a friend who lives in Canada and would like to purchase some snowdrops beyond the usual five or six available dried.  Does anyone know any snowdrop sellers in Canada, mail order or retail?

Thanks, Carolyn

[steve owen]

Lina
I'd like to, but it depends on the co-operation of a grandchild being born on the date I put on the order form.
Steve

[Lina Hesseling]

This birth of a grandchild is this year. It is a great experience!
Nettetal is hopefully every year.

If you do come, we 'll meet there probably.

Lina.

[Alan_b]

We sometimes refer to this book as the "The Snowdrop Bible" but now it's set in stone:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Snowdrops-A-Monolith-Of-Cultivated-Galanthus-/321051890874?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item4ac02f14ba

[Paddy Tobin]

Success - at long, long last - posting one photograph has tempted me to try again to post these shots from a week or so ago.

Atkinsii
Benhall Beauty
Colossus
Ding Dong
G. rizehensis