Why are all the ones I want the most expensive.

[burnie]

You've done well to grow Mistletoe, I remember my Dad trying and failing on more than one occasion, he thought they were the trickiest thing to grow and he grew Bananas from seed!

[Alison]

And a few years ago I visited a house and garden in Cambridgeshire with mum and sister. It was a birthday treat for me with lunch in a fine dine eating pub across the way.

Looking round the gardens I got talking to the gardener there about snowdrops. He too was a galthanophile and we were swapping notes on what we had. he already had all the ones that I had.

Mum and sister had taken themselves on to the pub to get warm as it was obvious that I was

He asked me if I had Trym. I said it was on my wish list but I had not yet been able to get one.

He took his trowel and asked would I like a green one or a yellow one. I was blown away and being very cheeky said I didn't think I could choose. That wonderful man gave me one of each. It was all I could do to stop myself hugging him. I certainly shook his hand most vigorously.

Apparently my mum said that I skipped in to the pub clutching my 2 little pots with eyes blazing bright and a grin that almost split my face.
They have since multiplied and I was able to dig them up and replant to make more little colonies.

I returned later in the year with a hamper of my homemade goodies.

Gardeners are the most amazing people.

Lovely story and don't feel that you have to justify your purchases to any of us, as already said, it's your money. I however know that I could never spend that sort of money on something like that as to me it wouldn't be value for money - I'm one of those people who thinks for ages before splashing out and if it doesn't add up in my head for me then won't buy as I'd always resent it. If however the amount of pleasure you get from something is more than what it physically cost then you have, in effect, got a bargain. I do think snowdrops are pretty but I'd rather have a sea of common ones than one rare one (not sure my eyesight is good enough to tell the difference, especially when looked at quickly from a distance which is what I tend to do in the cold of winter )

[Mrs Bee]

Here are some pictures of the snowdrops from a couple of years back after I had rehomed them in the new borders. The pictures aren't brilliant as you can really see the different markings. I have a new camera so will try to get better close ups this year.
But you can see where they live.

[Mrs Bee]

And these are in another part of the garden; newly planted a few years ago.

The trachelospermum jasminoides has filled out and is covering the fence now.

[Mrs Bee]

And these are the mistletoe from a few years back. They are much, much bushier now.

There are also a few more apple trees in our area with mistletoe starting to grow. I 'planted' more seeds at the request of friends. And they seem to have taken.

[bramble]

Mrs Bee, I hope you dont mind my asking but do you live in the UK?

[Mrs Bee]

Yes I do Bramble.

[WPG]

Lovely snowdrops Mrs Bee. I remember as a child finding the first snowdrop of the year was on a par with seeing a rainbow or a shooting star, so they've always felt like a special flower.

[sparrow100]

You've done well to grow Mistletoe, I remember my Dad trying and failing on more than one occasion, he thought they were the trickiest thing to grow and he grew Bananas from seed!

Mrs Bee's mistletoe seeds are bursting with life - she gave me some 2 years ago and this winter I have my first leaves showing on my little apple tree.

Thought you might like this as a weekend trip too: Shepton Mallet snowdrop festival: Everything you need to know about a new Somerset event | Somerset Live

[Mrs Bee]

I think I will have to take a rain check on that one. It is a little too far for me at them moment. Looking after Louisa eats in to going away time somewhat. Not that I mind one little bit. Love it.

Glad your mistletoe is growing well. I had three goes before I got mine to grow.
As soon as I bought the seeds from a different supplier, and got ripe berries it was a piece of cake.

I think most of the seeds I gave away have taken, because they were ripe and planted at the right time.

If anyone wants some berries to give it a go, if you send me a PM with your address I will send you some.

[Guest]

There is a thread on here somewhere and it says the mistletoe is specific to the host i.e if it was on an apple then it will only grow on other aplles etc. etc. I don't know how true it is, but I done berries the same time as Sparrow on pear, wild cherry and apple. The only surviving ones are on my apple.

[Mrs Bee]

That is interesting. I will have to check with my friends to see if the seeds they put on their plum trees worked as well as their apple trees.

[sparrow100]

I'll have to look in the blackthorn too - I plastered most of them in there.

[noviceveggrower]

Love your pictures Mrs Bee

[Kirk]

Isn't Myddleton House the one in Enfield where they have found 2 new varieties?
I suppose that they will start showing soon as I take the mountain bike round Lee Valley. Last year they were along several of the tracks en mass.