On 5. January, I discovered on the way to the subway under a hedge the first flowers of the year: snowdrops; small, white and in a spirit of optimism. The snowdrop – Botanical Galanthus, derived from the Greek gála for milk and ánthos for flowering plants of the so-called Show, its Blossoming marked for the botanist, the beginning of the early spring. For all others, it is legitimate to hope for the end of winter, a Symbol for strength to hold out. It looks simple at first glance, almost inconspicuous, it is full of Surprises and has a high addiction potential.
Last fall I planted many bulbs, including snowdrops were, but where the have landed, I know not the best of intentions. After the initial sighting of the small, white flowers on the way, I wanted to cheating and a couple of pre-collected specimens for my garden to buy. My Internet research led me to the amazing world of Galanthophilen, those people who are addicted to the delicate nature of the plants, apparently, downright.
Sometimes the interest gets out of control
The term seems to be of the English gardener E. A. Bowles (1865 to 1954) conceived been, the woman spoke to his friend Oliver Wyatt, in a letter with “dear gala thophile”. The lovers of Galanthus are mainly represented in the UK, but also in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are the men and women who are fascinated by the Europe and Central Asia domestic flower. You will be carefully studied, identified, cultivated and collected. Sometimes this interest gets out of control and develops into an Obsession, so that “galantho mania” needs to be addressed.
That you can lose yourself in this employment, is also due to the sheer mass and diversity of snowdrops. Today, more than 3000 varieties, the approximately 25 wild forms, of which some come from Turkey or Greece exist. All the wild forms since 1973, under protection of species. From the middle of the 19th century. Century developed a busy and extremely fruitful – cultivation activity.
Photo: Matt Bishop
On the property, the biologist, author and garden designer Anne Repnow, for example, ripen at the 400 varieties, including 10 wild species. The 63-Year-old lives in Leimen, and is not hesitating to come out: “Yes, I’m galantho Phil.” Repnow has justified 2016, the snowdrop days in Mannheim’s Luisenpark, where exhibitors from all over Europe come together. She has just published a picture book about your favorite plant: “Some Snowdrops”.
She is fascinated by Galanthus in all its characteristics mainly for two reasons, she says, they can bloom from October to March, provided you know the appropriate varieties to be cultivated. This performance impressed Repnow very, in this time, few other plants are in bloom in our latitudes. And In their tenderness and tenacity, you can withstand the adverse circumstances, they act by and through a positive effect on the mind: “you touch the heart,” says Repnow.
The resistance is not enabled, the propagation and change so open-minded ornamental plants from the family of Amaryllis plants are just in a figurative sense, precious: In the year 2014, a collector has paid, on a snowdrop auction for a single bulb 2500 dollars, reported the Guardian. The newspaper asked at the time whether now is a Run on the Mini-onset nodule, and a speculative bubble that would be created, comparable with the during the so-called Tulip fever of 1637.
At that time, the whole world looked to Amsterdam, where speculators vast sums for tulips paid the onions, eventually completely turned, and so the first super-crash of the stock market provoked. So far, it remained at the snowdrop-speculation front but quiet; a similar price outliers is not known. Professional breeders, such as the Brite-Matt Bishop request between 10 and 120 pounds for a tuber, the most expensive cost in the past season 450 pounds – the five copies are sold out.
In mid-January I came across in the supermarket around the corner on snowdrop: pots with two, three onions, the foliage and flower buds – for 2,99 Euro. According to the label it is Galanthus Nivalis, one of the most common varieties. Two I bought, although I had discovered in the Hortensienbeet meanwhile, the first green tips.
Somewhat bashfully, I told the expert Repnow of my impatience purchase – and received surprising acclaim: “This is the Best thing you could do,” she said. The mass of onion goods in the garden center come often collection of illegal Nature, said Repnow. Those who buy instead of the onions in the autumn, to Plant in the spring, could be more secure that everything.
Snowdrop bulbs have a very thin skin, they dry easily, therefore you should be better planted in August or September, in order to store for a long time; so who knows whether my fall planting will rise. The location of my new additions is so distinctive, that I know for next year where I have to search for: From my Desk I can bells now your white Flowers in the Wind rockers see.