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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 13, 2008 11:53:42 GMT
they've settled in lovely RF. you are so lucky CJ, I once passed a wood while I was on a train and the whole ground was carpeted with them absolutely amazing sight.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 13, 2008 21:18:07 GMT
Can't find a single one RF... squirrels, I think.
OM.
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Post by Tig on Mar 13, 2008 23:31:33 GMT
I have some coming through, some are pink though?
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 14, 2008 7:42:43 GMT
I think possibly that yours could be Scilla hispanica Tig and not the Hyacinthoides non-scripta ....unless of course they have made a Pink English Bluebell now which would be a disaster in my eyes....
Squirrels OM eh? I have never had the red squirrels messing with bulbs - I think I am also rather fortunate that the rabbits and the pheasants are on the other side of the road....
RF
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Post by JennyWrenn on Mar 14, 2008 8:27:20 GMT
I am not planting these again - never come up - strange really cos the wood opposite is totally covered with them - if squirrels then you think they would prefer to stay where there are masses rather than a few sad ones planted by a hopeful gardener  I could go and dig some up from the wood - ONLY JOKING  |
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Post by Amo on Mar 15, 2008 3:12:00 GMT
I ordered loads in the green last year and when they arrived they stank! It was awful. Shoved them in up on the top bank, just have to wait and see what comes up this year. We don't have squirrels. |
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Post by Shrubrose on Mar 15, 2008 7:46:29 GMT
A friend has just given us two bags full of bluebells so will try to get these in this weekend. The ones I have in the garden are sprouting but no signs of flowers yet. From memory they usually start to show late March.
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Post by Tig on Mar 15, 2008 11:41:37 GMT
I think possibly that yours could be Scilla hispanica Tig and not the Hyacinthoides non-scripta ....unless of course they have made a Pink English Bluebell now which would be a disaster in my eyes.... RF They just grew RF I didn't plant them, there were blue ones when we first moved here, and these just appeared - what do you think? Should I try and dig them all out? April 2005  April 2007 (in amongst ..)  Tig |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 15, 2008 11:48:23 GMT
Tig what have you done - they certainly look like Bluebells to me - slimmer flower that the Scilla I think.......what on earth have you got in your soil then.......
I wouldn't pull them out, they look lovely.
RF
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Post by carolann on Mar 15, 2008 12:19:54 GMT
Hi Tig dont worry about them I have a garden full of all colours even White, they look georgous so just leave them please, as the scent is beautiful no matter what colour they are.
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 15, 2008 13:23:21 GMT
Well I couldn't rest with the Pink Bluebells so I had a google and found a fair few things.....
pink is possible, a genetic variation, causing a change or lack of colour, may survive from year to year, viz the elusive white forms that can usually be found after searching an extensive drift of bluebells, usually in a more shaded area, but not always
It appears that the native English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) has been commingling with Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) and produced a hybrid species that, some say, threatens to crowd out England’s favorite wildflower.
“The Spanish variety has blue bell-shaped flowers, but that’s where the similarity ends. Our native bluebells have a delicate scent, while the Spanish variety has hardly any. Our native bluebells have rich blue coloured blooms on just one side of a blue stem, while the Spanish bluebell is larger and straighter with pale coloured flowers on all sides.” Belying fears of miscegenation, the same author writes, “The Spanish variety will grow almost anywhere, and many of them have got into the British countryside where they are breeding with our own native species and producing a hybrid.”
The Spanish bluebell, spread by nursery sales, then escaped gardens and cross-pollinated with the English wildflower. Now the hybrid is actually crowding out both non-scripta AND hispanica.
Mmmh does that mean that we should start a crusade "Save the English Bluebell"!!
RF
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Post by Tig on Mar 15, 2008 15:45:10 GMT
Thanks for that RF - the pink ones do smell like bluebells (that sounds soooo wrong :  , just have to blame the promiscuous Spaniards and naughty insects  Tig |
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Post by Jonah on Mar 23, 2008 22:50:07 GMT
I still haven't positively ID'd mine yet, but there seems to be thick clumps coming up all over the garden. I'm going to have to have a good sniff when then flowers turn up. ;D Just been looking on Wikipedia, and that says true english have yellowy white anthers, and true spanish have pale lilac. Maybe that's another way to distinguish them? Unless we have hybrids.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 28, 2008 11:28:23 GMT
We seem to have Blue and Pink on the go, what about white ones  I thought I'd posted this previously but may have just thought about it rather than done it  There is a path near me where last year I spotted two nice clumps of white bells growing, they get all trampled on so this year I've kept an eye and been very naughty and dug them up. They are now in a coupe of pots so I'll keep a further eye on them and get some pics when they flower. |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 29, 2008 18:32:34 GMT
Not much to see yet, but this old church site I discovered today appears to be carpeted in bluebells - I'll try to find it again for a pic when they're out... btw, have you ever seen a building more comprehensively ivy-covered?  OM. |
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Post by Pip on Apr 1, 2008 16:53:07 GMT
I can imagine it is a wonderful sight OM, I look forward to seeing them in flower. The Ivy seems to have taken over completely, doesn't it.
Pip
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Post by Rosefriend on Apr 1, 2008 17:09:12 GMT
You are not the only one that is looking forward to seeing them flower Pip, I am going to ask OM for a lovely large photo for my PC.....church an' all!!
It looks fantastic.....can you still get in?
RF
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Post by Shrubrose on Apr 1, 2008 18:20:36 GMT
It's a lovely pic isn't it? Seems to me quintessentially 'british' somehow.  |
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Post by Shrubrose on Apr 1, 2008 18:22:14 GMT
Ooo forgot to say - a friend of ours gave us two big bags of bluebells. Planted them up yesterday - lovely big fat bulbs too ;D I just hope they're english not spanish!
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 2, 2008 7:36:23 GMT
You are not the only one that is looking forward to seeing them flower Pip, I am going to ask OM for a lovely large photo for my PC.....church an' all!! It looks fantastic.....can you still get in? RF Get in? It's in a bit of a rickety old state, but door and windowless, so entry no problem. You'd never get out though, if one of they cobbles do come down on your 'ead... (apologies to any native Norfolkians) You're welcome to the photobucket version RF - was on the phonecam and the original full file now deleted... sorry. OM. |
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Post by Jonah on May 9, 2008 21:48:49 GMT
Mine smell lovely, and have yellowy anthers, but I'm still not entirely convinced they are the real thing. They droop, but there is the odd flower on the wrong side. I reckon I might have a bit of a hybrid. Unless I am just looking to hard. |
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Post by purplejulia on May 10, 2008 0:46:06 GMT
My "bluebells" are a mixture of blue, lilac, pink and white. There seems to be more white ones this year. I have no idea what variety they are but I suspect there not true English bluebells.  PJ |
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Post by Rosefriend on May 12, 2008 8:53:48 GMT
I had to look twice and I am a little fed up about it as well. Ignoring the pink Corydalis in the pic, there are Scilla hispanica and 2 lots of bluebells - who can spot the problem.  RF |
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Post by Amo on May 12, 2008 9:02:31 GMT
Erm... neighbours weedkiller on your side?? |
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Post by Rosefriend on May 12, 2008 9:04:24 GMT
Nope - that was me - on his side.....I went a bit haywire with it!!
RF
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Post by Rosefriend on May 14, 2008 13:38:26 GMT
Ooo no-one has seen what has happened - right I'll keep it to myself then..
BTW does anyone know when can move Bluebells - one lot must be moved - a bush has got far too big and they aren't getting light, plus I can't see them.
RF
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Post by Plocket on May 14, 2008 13:43:55 GMT
Have you got Spanish and English bluebells? I'm no expert so I'm just guessing!
My MIL gets a bit cross when I call them English Bluebells because as she rightly points out "they grow in Scotland too you know"!
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Post by Rosefriend on May 14, 2008 16:03:23 GMT
Yes there are Spanish and English Bluebells on the pic but oddly enough I have also got a pink flowering bluebell, which is rather difficult to see.
Like the bit about your MIL - well she is quite right isn't she!!
RF
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Post by Plocket on May 14, 2008 16:07:32 GMT
Yes she is quite right - they've even got a song about them after all!!! Sorry I can't help about moving bluebells. I would guess after flowering |
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Post by Amo on May 14, 2008 19:22:09 GMT
We can buy them here lifted after flowering so I guess that's when to move them too.
I don't think I have ever noticed as many bluebell woods as I have seen this year. They seem to be everywhere and very, very blue!!! I hope it's a sign of there being lots of them rather than just a bumper year.
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, just have to blame the promiscuous Spaniards and naughty insects 
There is a path near me where last year I spotted two nice clumps of white bells growing, they get all trampled on so this year I've kept an eye and been very naughty and dug them up. They are now in a coupe of pots so I'll keep a further eye on them and get some pics when they flower.
