 |
Despite all appearances, snowdrop growers can have occasional lucid moments. It was during one of those that I decided I didn't really need any more handsome but undistinguished
snowdrops. It is a description that fits Galanthus 'Lady Dalhousie' perfectly, but I seem to have acquired it anyway. Perhaps by the time lucidity is recognised it has already passed. 'Lady Dalhousie' arrived via the Nerine Society's bulb exchange. I wasn't expecting anything outstanding and my expectations were fulfilled. 'Lady Dalhouse is, however, a good thing. Writing in the Bulletin of the Alpine Garden Society after it was awarded a Preliminary Commendation, Robert Rolfe says: "Brechin Castle lies in Angus, to the north-west of Montrose, and is the home of Lord and Lady Dalhousie. There is a strong snowdrop tradition there, for Ian Christie (who knows the grounds well, having been first shown round by the head forester who shares the same name) relates that the seventh Earl visited the Crimea and brought back some bulbs, which have been grown by the family ever since. As with Galanthus 'E. A.Bowles', ... G. 'Lady Dalhousie' is a cross between G. nivalis and G. plicatus, selected around 2003, and one of several with striking green markings, though these vary in stature, with a much smaller, late flowering example being dubbed As for G. 'Lady Dalhousie', this has fairly broad, plicate leaves (11.5 x 1.5cm) and carries its flowers on 13 cm scapes. The ovary is more or less parallel-sided, depending from a straight pedicel, and the flowers are large, with the outer segments recorded as 30 x 18mm (which is either a misprint, or else signifies a remarkably substantial snowdrop) and inners measuring 14 x 12mm. Photographs show that the inner segments have a striking, v-shaped green band, but are also suffused green for much of their length, while the outers are longitudinally ribbed, with a white margin delineating s central greenish zone, overscored with apple green lines of varying width that extend for three-quarters the length of the flower." Sadly it would seem that my 'Lady' is not only unspectacular, she is also unauthentic. |
|
| 16th January 2022 | ||
