Bob and Vera Jones visited Branklyn Garden in Perth on Valentine’s Day, which coincided with a sale of Galanthus varieties in bloom. Pictures below – please click to enlarge each photo.
1. Both these heavy rollers were manufactured by Dalecast of Nottingham – perhaps the bourgeoning Scotland Cricket Team could make strategic use of the older one.
2. Rhododendron exasperatum from south-eastern Tibet – a rare species that is difficult to cultivate. Note the large stiff hairs on the leaf petioles.
3. (left) Rhododendron ‘Grosclaude’ (haematodes x facetum): new growth emerges from the old. First registered by Lionel de Rothschild in 1941.
3. (right) Rhododendron moupinense: the white-flowered variety, with a minute amount of frost damage on the corolla, as is often the case with early-flowering species.
4. (left) Ornamental grass with Rhododendron in the background.
4. (right) Daphne mezereum: widespread in Europe and western Asia. All parts of the plant should be considered as poisonous.
5. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ reaching for the sky.
6. (left) While diligently looking for a snowdrop with a distinctive markings, we came across Galanthus elwesii ‘Elmley Lovett’ with its large green ‘X’ on the inner petal.
6. (right) Galanthus ‘Crimea’ was yet to open. Growing in a shaded spot, it was evocative of the horrors this region has suffered over several centuries.
7. (left) Galanthus ‘Trumps’ is a very quick grower. From the underbrush, sotto voce: “Thank goodness there’s an S on the end”.
7. (right) Galanthus plicatus (Pleated Snowdrop) is native to eastern Europe and western Asia: “So come on guys, go find your own patch!”
8. (left) Galanthus ‘Hawick Starlight’.
8. (right) Leucojum vernum (Snowflake) had flowers at all stages of blooming.
9. Cyclamen sheltering dormant Pyrola rotundifolia, the round-leaved wintergreen.
10. (left) Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose). All is revealed by my trusty assistant: from the centre, we have whorls of pistils, stamens, (green) nectaries and sepals. The nectaries may be modified petals.
10. (right) Emerging bud of Podophyllum pleianthum, the many-flowered Chinese Mayapple, which is native to south-central / south-eastern China and Taiwan
11. (left) Iris ‘Katharine’s Gold’ is good for naturalising.
11. (right) Crocus tommasinianus (Woodland Crocus).
12. Iris reticulata ‘Pixie’ is a sport of Iris Harmony with a light fragrance.
13. On the way out there were snowdrops varieties for sale. Galanthus ‘Fly Fishing’ is noted for its long thin pedicel, which allows the flowers to swirl around in the lightest breeze. On the right is Galanthus ‘Titania’, which is often honey-scented.
