Came home from a trip away last week and its amazing to see how much has changed in a week being away and it was really nice to see that the bluebells are out, came across this single patch of white blue bell in the woods today looking all lonesome. 
white bluebells
- Thread starter andyn
- Start date
Bonnie things That photo looks so fresh.
Mine aren't out yet, just masses of leaves and tight budded stems. I've got pink ones too.
Mine set good seed and I need to redd out the beds so if anyone wants any seed or bulbs later on, maybe let me know ? Can't guarantee colour though, most probably blue.
Sorry to OT your thread Andy
cheers,
Toddy
That photo looks so fresh. Mine aren't out yet, just masses of leaves and tight budded stems. I've got pink ones too.
Mine set good seed and I need to redd out the beds so if anyone wants any seed or bulbs later on, maybe let me know ? Can't guarantee colour though, most probably blue.
Sorry to OT your thread Andy
cheers,
Toddy
Hi Andy,
We see occaisional white flowers too. I think it must either be a recessive gene that is not expressed very often or a single mutation that crops up every now and then.
Cheers,
Steve
We see occaisional white flowers too. I think it must either be a recessive gene that is not expressed very often or a single mutation that crops up every now and then.
Cheers,
Steve
Albino bluebells? The bluebells were out in numbers locally last week, this really is my favourite time of the year, I always prefer the fresh buds, new shoots, bright greens and colours of early summer over autumn, winter or spring. I've not seen a white one yet though, very unusual.
White bluebells are not too uncommon around here - I even have some in my garden.
I still prefer blue ones though!
I still prefer blue ones though!
Amazing the difference going a hundred miles north and a thousand feet upwards makes, our bluebells are only just starting to show some buds not a single open flower yet.
Bonnie things
Mine aren't out yet, just masses of leaves and tight budded stems. I've got pink ones too.
Mine set good seed and I need to redd out the beds so if anyone wants any seed or bulbs later on, maybe let me know ? Can't guarantee colour though, most probably blue.
Sorry to OT your thread Andy
cheers,
Toddy
Great pic. I'm looking forward to seeing them out here where I live but I think it will be several weeks yet.
Toddy I would love some bulbs if you have some to spare. The trees in my garden are just ready for some under planting now.
Apparently....the true 'British' bluebell is the fragrant one with a one-sided flower stem that droops over at the tip. Alas, like the red squirrel, it too is becoming less common thanks to the Spanish bluebell with which it readily cross-breeds.
The main difference is that the Spanish variety has unscented flowers on both sides of an upright central spike....which unfortunately is what I've just discovered my garden bluebells are
Still, what a wonderful sight seeing a carpet of blue under a woodland canopy
Bobbin
The main difference is that the Spanish variety has unscented flowers on both sides of an upright central spike....which unfortunately is what I've just discovered my garden bluebells are
Still, what a wonderful sight seeing a carpet of blue under a woodland canopy
Bobbin
Apparently....the true 'British' bluebell is the fragrant one with a one-sided flower stem that droops over at the tip. Alas, like the red squirrel, it too is becoming less common thanks to the Spanish bluebell with which it readily cross-breeds.
The main difference is that the Spanish variety has unscented flowers on both sides of an upright central spike....which unfortunately is what I've just discovered my garden bluebells are
Still, what a wonderful sight seeing a carpet of blue under a woodland canopy
Bobbin
In Scotland the real Bluebell is what folks further South call the Harebell. The other one, the big beautiful multi flowered blue one (pink and white are just sports of the same plant). is usually a hybrid of the native and the Spanish ones, both European anyway.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/...-bluebells/bluebell-identification/index.html
The Natural History Museum would like help from folks to do a little recording, details on the site above.
cheers,
Toddy......off to have a wander among the bluebells
Himself has just checked and we've got native bluebells, h.non scripta, we call it the Wild Hyacinth, blooming just outside the back gate and a lot more that I supect are mainly hybrids about to bloom in the garden.
Might make more of an effort to encourage the natives.
cheers,
Toddy
and a lot more that I supect are mainly hybrids about to bloom in the garden.Might make more of an effort to encourage the natives.
cheers,
Toddy
Be a little careful. There are white natives. Look closely and you can tell the difference already described.
The name Bluebell is given to the Harebell in Scotland but they are two different species as Toddy says 'cos they ain't got any proper Bluebells.
Andyn
Now that's just the view I had in mind. How nice...and blue
Toddy
Lucky you! If you do find that you end up with any spare seeds I'd be very interested in partaking of a few please to help reintroduce the native species back into a small garden in SE England.
Many thanks
Bobbin
Now that's just the view I had in mind. How nice...and blue
Toddy
Lucky you! If you do find that you end up with any spare seeds I'd be very interested in partaking of a few please to help reintroduce the native species back into a small garden in SE England.
Many thanks
Bobbin
Happy to do so, but if they hybridise so readily I don't think I could guarantee that the seed would run true.
I have a small bed about 2m square that needs redd out this year because it's choked with bluebells, and the ones from the burnside have come under the fence and are coming up between the paving slabs between my greenhouse and one of the sheds. I'll go through the clumps when they bloom and mark any that look like the natives. If there's a fair amount I'll send some to Fred, who asked first, and then you're on the list. Even if it's just a few they ought to come away fine if kept moist.
I'm fond of them but to be quite honest they seed and spread prolifically. Almost as bad as the Birch, Ash and Sycamore.
cheers,
Toddy
I have a small bed about 2m square that needs redd out this year because it's choked with bluebells, and the ones from the burnside have come under the fence and are coming up between the paving slabs between my greenhouse and one of the sheds. I'll go through the clumps when they bloom and mark any that look like the natives. If there's a fair amount I'll send some to Fred, who asked first, and then you're on the list. Even if it's just a few they ought to come away fine if kept moist.
I'm fond of them but to be quite honest they seed and spread prolifically. Almost as bad as the Birch, Ash and Sycamore.
cheers,
Toddy
Coincidentally, on Friday (2nd) BBC News ran a short report item on the Spanish bluebell problem, see following link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7381245.stm
Bobbin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7381245.stm
Bobbin
