Why I am not a snowdrop collector.


Collecting snowdrops, I thought it was something for me. In the long dull winter months, something exciting to look forward to. So -years ago- I visited the snowdrops fair in Wolfheze. I bought several varieties of snowdrops and planted them in the garden.

The next year I wanted to expand my collection. So I drove to Arboretum Kalmthout (Belgium) where I had a very nice meeting with Rika van Delden. Rika is a snowdrop collector by heart and soul. She is famous for her snowdrop collection and has 200 different species in her garden in Groningen (Tuinfleur).

Rika told me how to make a snowdrop collection: "Hetty, you have to plant those special snowdrops in a pond basket and place the basket into the soil. Otherwise the species will be mixed up. And you have to label them. One label at the bottom of the basket and one on top. Just to be sure! "

Oops, I thought, that is a lot of work. The purchases of last year I planted somewhere in the border. Not in a pond basket whatsoever and a label?? A label is something to get lost. After this conversation I realized that I am totally unsuitable for collecting snowdrops. I am just too messy; too careless!

Still both the special as the ordinary snowdrops are growing happily together in my garden. With or without a label.

I may have totally failed as a snowdrop collector, but that does not mean I don’t really enjoy my snowdrops a lot!



Galanthus 'Dionysus'


Close up: Galanthus 'Dionysus'


Galanthus without a label.


Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'
 

Close up: Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'
 

Galanthus 'Magnet'

Galanthus 'Greatorex G71'


My favorite: Galanthus 'Merlin'

New followers a warm welcome!

Comments

  1. Dear Hetty,
    your snowdrops look so pretty-every one of them! Until only recently I didn´t even know that there are so many different varieties of snowdrops. When I saw pictures of various varieties in some garden magazines and garden blogs I was amazed, as well as being astonished by how much some people pay for just one bulb of a very special variety. Knowing about all these beautiful varieties now, I of course feel like having a small collection myself. However, there are no snowdrop festivals or plant markets, offering snowdrops, in Austria. In the garden centres I found a very limited selection of snowdrops. Only three varieties. Better than nothing I thought and bought two double flower varieties. Galanthus flore pleno and galanthus hippolyta. I don´t think I will put them in a basket either. Maybe your ´carelessness´ with snowdrops will encourage crossbreeding and results in new varieties. Wouldn´t that be great!?
    P.S. : I saw that you made some rose cuttings in potatoes in autumn. I have never tried propagating roses that way. I am excited how the experiment will turn out.
    Best wishes,
    Lisa

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    Replies
    1. I hope they will start crossbreeding. Soon you can harvest your own varieties . And you can ask the world for one of your new bulbs!! Groetjes Hetty

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  2. Oh they are so lovely - thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/01/fun-with-textures-in-photoshop.html

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  3. They are such beautiful flowers

    Mollyx

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  4. Beautiful photos of these humble, early Spring flowers, Hetty. Named, separated and collected into distinct species is not for me either. I'd rather they grow all over the place in the garden... Thank you for taking part in the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

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  5. The important thing is that they thrive, and you can guess who is who :)

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  6. I didn't know there were so many different snowdrops! I only see one kind that grows wild along the roads. That does sound like a lot of work but you sound like me--doing it your own way!

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  7. They are delicate and inspiring, even without a label :-)

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