Galanthus plicatus 'Bill Clarke'

love 'em or hate 'em but yellow snowdrops are just head and shoulders above the rest.

Bill's mum is 'Wendy's Gold'

How beautiful....dreaming of spring. Still a foot of snow in the yard here in NY. But, visions of Galanthi? Or would that be Galantuses dancing through my head!

Those are simply wonderful, Mark.

I had never seen a yellow one beofre..., but I am very new to Galanthus, and gardening in general.

Are these actually in your own beds?

Adam.

PS: Have you ever seen this book? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0881924318/qid%3D1047146874/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-4266515-5117566 Is it worthwhile?



This message was edited Saturday, Mar 8th 1:08 PM

hi

These are both growing in my beds as shown recently on DG

The book isnt really for a beginner as it was the result of Aaron's PHD and goes into fine detail. The best book to buy is simply called 'Snowdrops' and will set you back $70 at least. The problem with this book is the images are of snowdrops that are in shortest supply. It is coming out again next year with 40 extra images. This book goes into detail such as scape (stem) height, spathe (the membrane that protects the emerging flower) height and shape, petal measurements, parentage if known and the history of the bulb. I have had mine over 2 years and still havent read it thoroughly.

Love it Mark!!Encore!!
Bob

Mark ~~~

It sounds like these two books are a bit beyond my level of ability, so for now I guess it's wise to pass on them and to continue to look at more generalist literature.

Thanks for the details.

Adam.

LOL Rootdoctor

This snowdrop is at the top of every Galanthophile's wants list. It is being propagated by chipping.

This is 'South Hayes' a seedling of 'Trym'

It's funny,I grow these big monster tropicals,and I can sit here and be amazed by these little beauties.
Never heard of chipping?
Indulge me,please.
Bob

Bulb propagation by chipping. By the way, this is an AMAZING web site:

http://www.actahort.org/books/177/177_45.htm

I've never tried this. I'm very new to this sort of thing.

Mark's the expert.

Adam.

well this is whatcha do

1 in late May / early June when the leaves turn yellow lift any bulbs that are healthy.
2 remove their tunics and was using a fungicide
3 trim the basal plate right back to remove all roots
4 cut off the snowdrop's nose
5 and cut it up using a razor blade like you would do to a cake
6 soak these chips in a quality fungicide like the now banned Benlate for 20-30 minutes
7 remove and set in damp Vermiculite
8 10-12 weeks later each chip will have produced a bulbil

if the bulb is cut in 2 or 4 it will grow a new bulb of equal size and flower the following spring. any more than 4 cuts and the bulbil will take 3-4 years to flower

roll on last wek in May!! LOL

Adam we have to be a member to read the info

Nice,Mark,I learned some thing today!Had never even heard the term.Looks like it could be tricky,they can't br very big bulbs.
Bob

not really. they start about that size of a big pea up to the size on a narcissus bulb. the range is height is as big. 'Elphin' at about 2 inches to my own find at 14 inches

Mark,very interesting. I had never heard of chipping bulbs. Also sounds like a lot of chemicals. I only have the oldfashioned snowdrops, but love them because they bloom so early. Mine are in bloom now. I did buy a bulb or two of large flowered kind, forget the name, never bloomed. It is cold here today (and yesterday), was 12 degrees above zero this morning and finally warmed up to 34 degrees but the wind is blowing out of the north, so I didn't go outside to look at the crocus, snowdrops and others. rutholive (Donna)

Yes, I know this, Mark..., not quite everything worthwhile in life is free ;~) Though many are.

It really is a marvelous web site.

Adam.

all very pretty!