Why are all the ones I want the most expensive.

[Mrs Bee]

I have an addiction. There is no help.
There are no support groups and I am alone.

I am a galanthophile and the snowdrop catalogue has landed.

All the ones I really want are between £50 and £120.

And my limit for a bulb is £40.
SO my list is made, and I have four days before the ordering website goes live.

I have time to think. Which do I really, really want.

[Lumpy]

A millionaire hubby, 6 numbers on the Flotto, an unknown super rich relative with a favourable will or..............how about daffs?

[Mrs Bee]

I have already planted loads of daffodils and although beautiful they just aren't snowdrops.

I will just have to steal myself and be content with some of the cheaper varieties to add to my growing collection.

Luckily my birthday is in February, and money is on the cards. Or in the cards.

[veggiechicken]

Could you grow them from seeds? They're usually cheaper than bulbs.

[Alison]

And my limit for a bulb is £40.

Have I misunderstood? That much for one bulb! Even if I was a multi millionaire I couldn't do that!

[Mrs Bee]

Seeds for the rare bulbs are difficult to get hold of.

And yes My limit for one bulb is £40.

The very rarest go for auction in a sealed bids. And the rare ones are rationed to one per order if you can afford.

In my defence I spend very little on myself. You would not believe how old some of my clothes are. I do not go in for jewellery or flash holidays.

And as my collections build I could sell my spare bulbs. I could, but I won't as I will just start up another colony somewhere else in the garden

[Lumpy]

Is there a National Collection of Snowdrops in this country?

Why snowdrops Mrs B?

[Alison]

Seeds for the rare bulbs are difficult to get hold of.

And yes My limit for one bulb is £40.

The very rarest go for auction in a sealed bids. And the rare ones are rationed to one per order if you can afford.

In my defence I spend very little on myself. You would not believe how old some of my clothes are. I do not go in for jewellery or flash holidays.

And as my collections build I could sell my spare bulbs. I could, but I won't as I will just start up another colony somewhere else in the garden

I'm genuinely shocked, I know tulip bulbs were eye wateringly expensive in Victorian times but really thought I'd misunderstood as they couldn't possibly cost that much. ''Tis a different world. Hope you find what you want though.

[Mrs Bee]

I think they are the most amazing flowers.

They are so delicate and fragile looking but can exert several pounds of pressure to get through the earth which is usually frozen.

And their appearance heralds the coming of Spring, and gives interest to the winter garden.

There are so many different markings, shapes and sizes and colourings including yellow ones and an apricot coloured one that went for an enormous sum several years ago.

The ordinary elwessii and nivalis are beautiful but there are so many other named varieties that are so interesting.

You can tell a galanthophile during January and February as they are the ones on their knees looking at their markings.

Their name means milk flower and there are various interesting folk lore stories about them.

And they are in flower on my birthday.

Mr Bee bought me a gorgeous book several years ago all about snowdrops; packed with pictures and that fuelled my already fired up passion.

[bramble]

If I paid that price for one bulb I would be standing guard over it.,And, if it died I couldnt live with myself for spending all that money.
Each to their own and perhaps you might post some pics of the different varieties.

[Mrs Bee]

I am inclined to stand armed guard especially with the blasted squirrels, but I have had more successes keeping and getting snowdrops to bulk up than failures.

Last year there weren't quite as many in flower but that was to be expected as I lifted, separated and replanted the year before.
I have high hopes of this years flowering.

I will post some pictures once they are in flower.

[KevinM67]

If you can't eat it, it's a weed !!! (copyright JIMMY)

[Jungle Jane]

Price shouldn't have anything to do with beautiful flowers or does the price make them more intriguing to some people? I wouldn't pay £100 for one bulb that's crazy mad. If my hobby cost that much I couldn't forgive myself.

[happyhumph]

I have to say I understand the attraction Mrs Bee, & have forcibly stopped myself getting into them as I know I'd be hooked! As for £40 a bulb - didn't one got for almost £2000 earlier this year? Now that's expensive! Sure there was a thread on here about it.

I restrict myself to hellebores for my late winter flower obsession....

[Lumpy]

Mrs B - I hope your snowdrops give you a spectacular display in the coming year. You go Girl.