I have snow drops in my yard last few days in Pittsburgh, but what is making a great show are all the winter aconite covering a large area of the front yard. Vijay On Feb 26, 2012, at 11:40 AM, Mark McDonough wrote: > I must admit, I do not understand the obsessive fascination with > Galanthus. As I typically do, let me preface this message: I find > snowdrops utterly delightful little plants; perfectly charming > harbingers of spring (and an autumn one or two), what's not to like > about them? But when we get right down to it, these little "snow > dumplings" are white white white, with a dab of green. How many > variations of white with green markings can there be? Apparently > thousands. Should they all be named? Maybe, maybe not; but if it brings > considerable enjoyment to Galanthophiles, then so be it. When I observe > photos of myriad named snowdrops, many at exorbitant high price, to my > eye there's a niveous sameness to so many of them, I can hardly tell > them apart, insufficient distinction to pry even a few dollars out of my > wallet if they were available. > > Now, I certainly wouldn't mind having one of the so-called yellow > galanthus (yellowish peduncles and yellowish markings on the white > petals), but even so, wouldn't pay much for it, I don't suppose I'll > ever have one. Now if only there were Galanthus with pink flowers, or > any color other than white and green. If I were to spring $50 for a > plant, would much rather buy one of the newer Cypripedium hybrids that > come in a fascinating array of colors and rich markings. > > Long and short of it, I don't think Galathomania will catch on in the > US; there will of course be dedicated followers of the genus here, but > no where close to the fervent popularity it enjoys in the UK and > elsewhere in Europe. > > Mark McDonough > antennaria@charter.net > Massachusetts, USDA Zone 5 > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/