Snowdrops

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by redstar, Jan 25, 2013.

  1. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    Lovely pictures Armandii. :dbgrtmb: How's the knees? :biggrin:
     
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    I lay on some plastic sheeting in the cold and wind and placed a black board behind the Snowdrops, Sheal.:hate-shocked: Numb fingers and other vital parts, plus my glasses steamed up with my breath, were the price, and it didn't help as Jenny came to see what her idiot owner was doing and kept staring into the lens. It is a beautiful flower though but we just don't often see it up close but stand and look at from a height.:coffee:
     
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    • Sheal

      Sheal Total Gardener

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      The things we get up to eh? I hope the neighbours didn't spot you. :heehee:
       
    • ARMANDII

      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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      They're used to my antics, and beside all the neighbours are known as the Crazy Club. One lady in the end house aged 60 still sky dives. She said her husband won't join her in case she "fixes" his parachute:heehee:
       
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      • Kristen

        Kristen Under gardener

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        1. They are very samey - nothing wrong with that ... but:
        2. You probably would be surprised how many out-of-the-ordinary varieties there are, and how different they are. I believe there are around 2,000 registered named varieties

        [​IMG]

        "Green Brush" which has a hint of green on the outer petals

        [​IMG]

        "Rosemary Burnham" very green outer petals, and more green on the inners than the usual inverted-V

        [​IMG]

        "Kite" has an X-like marking on the inners

        Then yellow ones like

        [​IMG]

        Wendy's Gold

        [​IMG]

        "Green Tear" which sold for a fortune (last year I think, maybe year before)

        [​IMG]

        E A Bowles

        [​IMG]

        Walrus

        More here if you want to take a look :)

        Plus there are doubles, and early / late ones too ... lots to choose from :)

        Get back down on your hands and knees and see if you have any "sports" - they could make you a fortune :)
         
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        • Palustris

          Palustris Total Gardener

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          Often looked through ours and in all the 5 or so 1,000 I have never seen any thing different. BUT, then I have never found a seed capsule with viable seeds either. You need seed production to get variation. If you ever get the chance to go to somewhere like The Weir Garden in Hereford, you will see what is called a 'hybrid swarm'. It is in that kind of situation where you find new variations. So Kristen keep planting all these forms of G. nivalis and you never know, but don't hold your breath, they take a while to flower from seed.
           
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          • Kristen

            Kristen Under gardener

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            I had been thinking that I should plant all the species that self seed and hybridise so that they may create some of their own interesting varieties over time ... assuming I have the time to "wander" round on my knees checking them!
             
          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            Well, that's my point, Kristen, regarding simple Snowdrops being "very samey", how many of us actually get on our knees, or lower, to actually look closely???.:dunno: :snork: The minor differences in the more "Tulip Madness" collectable Snowdrops are not noticeable enough to really see the difference standing up, except for the Double Snowdrops of course.:heehee:
             
          • Kristen

            Kristen Under gardener

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            You only need to crawl on your hands and knees to find a new one :), if you owned some special ones you'd know where they were and either grow them in raised beds, or pots, or whatever, or grow them in the ground as "Normal" and pick the flowers for a nice small vase in the middle of the table :)

            Although, something I learnt recently, and wished I hadn't read!, is that its unlucky to bring Snowdrops into the house before Candlemas (mid point of Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox I think ...). Also Groundhog day ... FWIW

            Here's one I know you'll like:

            [​IMG]

            "Grumpy" :) [Link]
             
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            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              Looks like me in the morning when I first look in the mirror!!:heehee: I didn't realise you are superstitious??? I would think that raised beds would be the answer for those who collect certain plants though.:snork:
               
            • Kristen

              Kristen Under gardener

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              I'm saying nothing!

              Well, I'm not ... but .... bit like Sterling Moss said when asked whether he was superstitious "I'm not, but I'd be a fool to ignore it just in case its true" :heehee:
               
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              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                Haven't been able to do that for over 20 years!!! :old: :sad:
                 
              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                Are we talking about the same thing here, Shiney??:scratch: :heehee:
                 
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                I really don't know what you could mean! :heehee:
                 
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