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| Galanthus 'Augustus' |
Well the temperature soared to the dizzy heights of 12 degrees centigrade in the greenhouse today and my special snowdrops in the greenhouse were singing. It was the ideal day to inspect all the pots of 'drops that are open as well as those about to open and a chance to take a few more photos. Thanks for all the lovely comments and encouragement that have come my way recently about my snowdrop photos. I still think that there is room for improvement so was pleased to get hold a thin piece of black foam from an art shop on Friday which I can now use as a backdrop. Before then I had been using black card, pegged on to some stiffer cardboard, which occasionally toppled over threatening to behead snowdrops as it did so. The black foam can be propped up without anything behind it and has so far been reassuringly stable. It also seems to photograph as black rather than a murky shade of charcoal grey as the card sometimes did.
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| Galanthus 'Angelique' |
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| Galanthus 'Lost Labellus' |
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| Galanthus 'John Grey' |
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| Galanthus ' Lady Beatrix Stanley |
I've also been asked if I have favourites. This is a hard question to answer but probably my favourite is 'Diggory' (not pictured here) although most of the above would be close runners up if it came to a competition. Morever three of them - 'Augustus', 'John Gray' and 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' can all be obtained at prices that will not break the bank. 'Augustus' is not quite open yet but I so love the dimpled petal exteriors. I'm also waiting with anticipation for a couple of new purchases to flower for the very first time so who knows my favourite may yet be usurped in a few days time. Watch this space!
Postcript
Back in the greenhouse on Monday afternoon where it is definitely cooler than yesterday. I snipped a trio of flowers from Galanthus 'George Elwes' as they have been rather floppy for a couple of days. To this a few sprigs of ivy, some cornus or dogwood twigs and a flower from helleborus 'Christmas Carol'. This turned out to be a work in progress as I've returned to it to insert a few twiggly bits of a pink tinged winter heather. However it is too gloomy out there now for another photo as well as being perishingly cold. You can see many more vases today over at
'Rambling In The Garden' hosted by the lovely Cathy. A great way to dispel the winter blues!
Augustus is really unusual. Yes, it was positively pleasant in the greenhouse today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Jessica. I think that it's the almost seersucker qualities of the petals that make 'Augustus' such a special chap. It was a warm night in the greenhouse too according to the min/max thermometer but the temperature has definitely dipped today.
DeleteNo need to stoop and bend down for us, beautiful photos Anna!
ReplyDeleteI think that my bending and stopping days are long over - so much easier this way :)
DeleteThe black background really shows of the snowdrops beautifully. Not a sign of my outdoor ones yet - where are they?
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Elaine. I've noticed that my outdoor ones always come up with almost indecent haste. No sign one day and then woooooosh! I'm sure that yours will just be lurking until the time is right.
DeleteI like seeing different varieties together so they can be compared like this. I love the dimpled Augustus but my favourite here is Angelique, so understated and delicate looking.
ReplyDelete'Angelique' is a most elegant lady and seems to have a soft sheen about here which I love. I'm glad that you've enjoyed seeing some of the different varieties together Jo. They are certainly not all the same as some people suggest :)
DeleteThe background works well - black always seems to set things off well and is especially good for whites, Lady B is quite unusual,
ReplyDeleteThe black background seems to do the trick I think Sue as it means that the eye can focus on the flowers and not be distracted by anything else. I always find that white and red flowers are the most difficult colours to capture. Not only is Lady B is a lovely snowdrop she is very easy to recognise :)
DeleteLovely photos, beautifully sharp and they do show really well against your new background. Augustus, Angelique and Lady Beatrice Stanley are flowering in the garden here, will you be keeping yours in pots in the greenhouse?
ReplyDeleteOh thanks you for your kind words Pauline. I'm slowly planting out my snowdrops when they have multiplied so that I can enjoy the best of both worlds.
DeleteMy favourite today has to be Angélique for her timid, elf-like beauty :)
ReplyDelete'Angelique' does indeed look rather timid and shy Annette although I'm not so sure about the elf comparison :) I will have to look at her again at close quarters.
ReplyDelete'Angelique' does indeed look rather timid and shy Annette although I'm not so sure about the elf comparison :) I will have to look at her again at close quarters.
ReplyDeleteI love the snowdrops photographed against the black foam, what a great idea! The snowdrops in the vase do look a bit sad, but maybe they'll pick up.
ReplyDeleteAgain your photos are brilliant, so you deserve any praise that is heaped on you Anna! Having put my newest purchases in pots in the greenhouse to begin with I am really appreciating being able to view them at a higher level - perhaps my newest project might have something to do with that.... ;) You are right about having to scroll down to find your vase - I had an early peek at your post on my phone and had missed it! How nice to be showcasing all these topical pretties in one vase, regardless of any floppiness. What a perfect flower from your Christmas Carol - mine tend to be a bit manky! Thanks so much for joining in this week ps it was 18 degrees in our smaller greenhouse sometime on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteI so admire snowdrops and your collection is wonderful, as is your arrangement. Sadly, they're not a plant that grows well in Southern California...
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely assortment of snowdrops! A beautiful combination in the vase- WG
ReplyDeleteWelcome Woodland Gnome and thanks for your comment which is much appreciated!
DeleteWhat stunning snowdrop photos Anna!! I also love your vase of winter goodies - the corpus stems add a beautiful touch.
ReplyDeleteI'm smiling at your typo Julie but I know what you mean :)
DeleteAnna I absolutely adore all your 'Drops...especially the first with the dimpled petals. How lovely to see them with helleborus and red twig...if we ever have a melt before March, I might see a 'Drop or two in my garden soon, but none as lovely as your special ones.
ReplyDeleteThose dimples are gorgeous Donna. I do hope that you have a melt before March and I'm sure your 'drops will be just as special.
DeleteWhat fantastic photos of your lovely snowdrops. The black backdrop shows them off perfectly. Augustus is a little gem.
ReplyDeleteI love your arrangement, so pretty.
By the way, did the Walrus survive being dug up and posted?
Oh thanks for your comment Chloris. 'Walrus' did survive the traumatic experience but is sulking slightly as I don't think that he is going to flower this year :( Still it will be even more special when he does.
DeleteAngelique is lovely, looking very angelical. Your vase is very pretty too - I like the addition of dogwood. Nice idea!
ReplyDelete'Angelique' does have a rather serene glowing look about her Cathy. The dogwood is is need of a drastic haircut . I thought that I would attempt to kill two birds with one stone as I can insert them into some compost later and see if will eventually root :)
DeleteYou do take some rather wonderful snowdrop pictures Anna. Of course, the subjects are just as wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI attempted to copy your black background but all I had to hand was a black table mat. It was too glossy and didn't at all do the flowers justice.
The subjects are indeed rather special Angie. Oh what a shame that the glossy table mat dis not oblige but black matte card does and is easily obtained.
DeleteI'd been wondering how you do your black background for your 'drops - thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteYou may remember I'm more of a masses of G nivalis gal - the more the better, but last autumn I rediscovered an 'Augustus' which Harveys plants had given me at the RHS Show in London when I bought their wonderful Helleborus 'Winter Moonbeam'. He's now in a trough on the patio and just beginning to bloom. I'm rather amazed I'm being rewarded after such wanton neglect. Then today I headed over to Evolution Plants to select some snowdrops for a talk that Naomi Slade is doing on Saturday (and I'm helping) in Wales. Tom gave me 'PercyPicton' as a gift and after selecting 10 'drops for the talk I fear I may be on a slippery slope to establishing a collection! I wonder how many of the 10 will come home with me rather than being returned to the nursery? Weather permitting I'm off on a trip to Easton Walled Gardens and Hodsock Priory on Monday, so expect a snowdrop fest on the blog soon!
Oh you are most welcome VP. It sounds indeed that you could already be on that slippery slope! Have fun on Saturday. I hope that you do not encounter too many snowdrops falling from the skies. Look forward to a snowdrop fest over at yours soon.
ReplyDeleteOh I really love the dimpled petals of Augustus, seersucker indeed.
ReplyDelete