Joe Sharman aka Mr. Snowdrop
Joe Sharman Talk - 5th March
Having failed to check my emails I arrived at the Chamberline Hall expecting to hear a talk from Anna Pavord, the iconic garden writer and speaker but sadly she was indisposed. Luckily the very persuasive Matthew Long had cajoled Joe Sharman, the ’Snowdrop King’ to step into the breach. The first clue was an enticing array of plants from his wonderful Monksilver Nursery... so glad I brought my wallet!,
Joe began with a detailed description of the botany of the snowdrop which was both fascinating and informative. For example, we were told that their simple roots contain a fungus that helps the bulb to thrive and that the roots are very susceptible to damage. The whole plant grows from the base plate described as the true stem of the plant and all the energy of the bulb is pushed into the leaves and flowers leaving the bulb soft and squashy. Understanding this means that from now on I won’t move my snowdrops in the green as I have in the past. Moving them once the leaves have died back will ensure that the bulbs are firm again.
Although I had always thought the various markings on the inner and out petals were the important identifier, in fact the leaves are the real indicator of the different Galanthus species. It is even possible to identify the parentage of first and sometimes even second cross hybrid plants from these leaf patterns.
The opening slide was of Galanthus plicatus ‘Wendy’s Gold’, the plant that first piqued his interest in snowdrops. Spotted first in 1985 by his mother and a friend, on the Wandlebury Ring just south of Cambridge, Joe, then a twenty five year old horticultural student, quickly recognised the significance af this large vigorous yellow flower growing on chalk soil. Bill Clark, the warden, who’s wife is the eponymous Wendy, gave a bulb to Joe and to the botanic garden and the rest of the clump was sold to a bulb company for £1,000, a healthy price in those days. Unfortunately the bulb company managed to kill all their stock. A photo of Joe’s plant in The Garden magazine caught the interest of a group of galanthophiles who gave ‘Snowdrop’ parties where the collections of such snowdrop worthies such as Primrose Warburg were shown, bulbs exchanged and reputations made.
Joe went on to discuss why Galanthus nivalis, the most widely naturalised species in Britain are not thought to be native even though it is very widely distributed across Western Europe, from Poland, through the Balkans and into Spain. He explained that this huge range means that here are lots of variations, such as green tipped, yellow ones and pocular forms occurring in different regions. A series of lovely slides illustrated the different forms and variations to be found and their origins. Although it was fascinating, I must admit that my untrained eye still finds it hard to differentiate between all but the most strikingly different ones.
Some of the varieties which did stand out for me were, G. nivalis ‘Anglesey Abbey’, especially for its local connection: G. nivalis Viridipice, a green tipped plant that originated in Holland where most are green tipped. G. nivalis Scharlockii, appealed with its leafy spathes looking like rabbit ears, as did G. nivalis ‘Mrs Thompson’, a hybrid, described as a good garden plant and a good starter variety, which has several flowers per stem.
We learnt that the double snowdrop, G. nivalis flore pleno, probably originated in Britain as we have more variations than any other country. As these are sterile flowers they last a long time and because the bulbs are clonal the variations that occur are very stable.
Galanthus reginae-olgae, named after Queen Olga of Greece has varieties that flower in autumn, extending the snowdrop season. It likes moist conditions and thrives when grown with lots of leaf mould.
Galanthus plicatus, large vigorous plant that originates in Turkey, probably came over in the 1850s and 1860s when lots of our soldier went off to fight in the Crimean War, many of whom would have been gardeners. A few bulbs popped in a knapsack would have made it back to Britain, with different varieties picked up by regiments in different regions, for example the variety found in the Wandlebury Ring almost certainly came from the area in Crimea with its large population of yellow snowdrops where an East Anglian regiment was based. G. plicatus ‘Trym’
with its boldly green marked, pagoda shaped flowers was found in Westbury on Trym and passed to Primrose Warburg. This very appealing variety has given rise to many seedlings with similar characteristics.
A greater understanding of hybridisation means we now know that Galanthus atkinsii is actually a hybrid of nivalis and plicatus. Described by Joe as “stabley unstable” it often throws up very weird and wonderful variations. Similarly Galanthus ‘Hill Poe’ is a hybrid double probably from a cross between G. nivalis flora pleno and G. plicatus and has beautifully rounded double flowers. Other beauties from this cross include the flowers named after Shakespearean characters such as ‘Ophelia’ and ‘Cordelia’.
Galanthus elwesii, named after Sir Henry John Elwes and discovered in the southern half of Turkey is hugely variable both in cultivation and in the wild. Its grey green leaves indicate its ability to survive in hot dry places and is a vigorous plant. The inners usually have two green marks and I’m sure we have all seen the lovely variety called ‘Grumpy’ and I also loved Galanthus elwesii ‘John Tomlinson’ with its extra large flowers and the gorgeous double, ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’.
The final species and one I had never heard of, was the appropriately named G. gracilis with small, graceful flowers and narrow, twisted glaucus leaves. from mountaintops in Greece, Bulgaria and Western Turkey, and liking dry, sunny conditions it might do well here in East Anglia.
Finally we were given a run through the pests and diseases that attack snowdrops, including Joe’s rather gruesome method for squishing Swift moth grubs!
There was so much more that Joe told us about this fascinating genus and all the species, hybrids and varieties that I began to understand how easily one could become a fully fledged galanthophile. Joe’s addiction extends to a collection of snowdrop memorabilia to fill in those few months when there are no snowdrops and even includes snowdrop patterned kitchen roll.
I was sorry that Anna Pavord was indisposed and even sorrier to hear that she will be retiring from the talk circuit but Joe Sharman proved to be a very entertaining and informative substitute. Last but not least many of us also bought some wonderful new plants for our gardens from his packed plant stall - I know I certainly did!
Marysa Norris EAGG member