DRYAD INTRODUCTIONS
MYTHS AND LEGENDS SNOWDROPS

12 years ago, I embarked on a snowdrop breeding programme to attempt to develop distinctive and vigorous new varieties of snowdrop. The range available at the time was very limited, and many varieties were weak growers and difficult to obtain. Many new snowdrops were being found in the wild, or self-sown in gardens, but I wanted to explore selective breeding to achieve notable results, using the same techniques I had already been using for almost 20 years to breed miniature daffodils.

Following the successful production of yellow snowdrops, I decided to look towards improved varieties of virescent and inverse poculiform (ipoc) snowdrops. As when I began my yellow breeding programme, there was a lack of cultivars in this section available, but I obtained as many as I could to give me a good gene pool to work with - the best being South Hayes and Corrin, but also Trymlet and Trimmer. Beginning in 2008, hand pollination gave me small numbers of seeds. More crosses followed in subsequent years, and the task of growing on and assessment began.

From the Inverse Poculiform (ipoc) seedlings, two have already been identified as being of the high standard of distinctiveness and stability that I demand: Dryad Artemis and Dryad Venus. Both these varieties have been registered and given a very limited customer offering.

A third has now been identified that has exceeded my expectations. Virescent snowdrops are a key member of the snowdrop family and highly sought after. Defined broadly as having a green inner with green covering a large proportion of the outer, there are a number of excellent varieties.

Normally the green colouration on the outer is in the form of a wash, reminiscent of watercolour painting. What has not been available is a 'solid green' virescent, where the outer colour is a solid block of colour more reminiscent of oil paint.

Bulking up these striking new cultivars was complicated by the propensity of some ipoc cultivars to revert to the ordinary form, or to lose the purity of the markings when chipped. This was a chancy affair, as some commercial varieties seemed to be immune, while others were variably susceptible, with no apparent reason why, and despite adjusting the size of the chips or other parameters. For this reason, I have been loth to chip my ipocs unless I had several bulbs already, to keep some in reserve unchipped in case of problems. This has led to there being a considerable delay in introduction of these varieties, the initial bulbs offered are all by natural division, until chipped bulbils have flowered and been checked to perform consistently for at least 2 seasons.

As stocks allow, I will release these varieties for sale. Currently, they are only available on ebay, but as my stocks increase, I will be offering them in my mail-order list.

If you want to follow me as a seller, and be informed when the bulbs are listed, use this link and click on 'FOLLOW" http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/dryadzny

Due to the rarity, large number of requests to purchase, and limited number available , ebay seems to be the fairest way of giving everyone the same chance of obtaining one of these highly desirable and rare collectors' snowdrops.

See also my short article showing the Dryad Golds :

http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2015Jun251435252604IRG_66.pdf

Registration details and descriptions of the first registered varieties are below, in alphabetical order:

DRYAD ARTEMIS

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Galanthus Dryad ‘Artemis’ is a beautiful and elegant lady with neat and graceful flowers and an upright habit, much admired. It is vigorous and increases well. Artemis was the goddess of chastity and the hunt, and the sleek shape of the plant and purity of the crisp markings of the flower is a tribute to those qualities, while the inner mark is reminiscent of an ancient Greek bow. The icing on the cake is the delicious scent.

DESCRIPTION
Flowering height 200 - 300mm. Leaves, plicate, erect, approximately 16mm x 170mm at flowering time. Scapes upright. Ovary cylindrical, length:width approximately 4:3. Flower shape conical. Flower length including ovary 23mm. Pedicel 80% the length of the straight spathe.
Outer segments 19mm long by 16mm wide, pure white with a deep green, indented, inverted horseshoe mark at the apex. This mark continues as deep green striations all the way to the base on the underside of the outer segments. ‘Claw’ 3mm.
The inner segments are laterally incurved, flared at the apex, with a deep, narrow sinus. The inner segment mark is a dark green inverted V, narrow at the basal end, and broad towards the apex of the segment. This mark continues as deep green striations all the way to the base on the underside of the inner segments. There are two faint green spots at the sides of the inner segments near the base. The flower is scented.

DRYAD DEMETER

DRYAD VENUS

This seedling has exceeded my expectations. Virescent snowdrops are a key member of the snowdrop family and highly sought after. Defined broadly as having a green inner with green covering a large proportion of the outer, there are a number of excellent varieties.

I am therefore delighted to introduce the new Ipoc Dryad Demeter, which has these solid virescent characteristics. Demeter is the Greek goddess of agriculture and vegetation (also known as Anesidora, sending gifts up from the earth). In the ancient Greek religion of Hellenismos she is associated with the colour green.

Galanthus Dryad Demeter has been registered ready for a limited offering in 2019.

DESCRIPTION
Flowering height 150-170mm. Leaves, plicate, slightly spreading, approximately 100mm x 17mm at flowering time. Scapes upright. Ovary cylindrical, length:width approximately 3:2. Flower shape pyramidal. Flower length including ovary 24mm. Pedicel 80% the length of the curved spathe.
The outer segments are slightly flared outwards at the edges, and are approximately 15mm long by 11mm wide, emerald green with a white edge and apical indentation. The mark is the same on the underside of the outer segments. No obvious claw.
The inner segments are also slightly flared at the margins, with a deep, narrow sinus. The inner segment mark is the same as the outer segments, the upper and underside of the outer segments being almost entirely green, other than a white margin. The flower is scented.

DRYAD VENUS

Dryad Venus is a favourite with all who have seen it for its curvaceous, shapely flowers with a flirty frill around the outer segments on mature flowers. The mark on the outer segments is shaped like an inverted heart. The inner segments are not willingly revealed, but if you have a peek you will see that the inner mark is a deeper green 'X' or kiss. With such a ravishing, sensuous shape and markings the only fitting name was Venus, as the Goddess of Love and Beauty.

It is a mid-height snowdrop growing to about 20cm high under glass, probably shorter in the open. At flowering time the plicate leaves are short and display the flowers well. It has a upright habit, and the spathe is erect. To add to all this, not only is it scented, but it probably carries yellow genes having Wendy's Gold and Corrin as parents, so will be useful in breeding programmes for yellow poculiforms.

DESCRIPTION
Flowering height 150 - 200mm. Leaves, plicate, spreading, approximately 70mm x 17mm at flowering time. Scapes upright. Ovary cylindrical, length:width approximately 8:5. Flower shape pyramidal. Flower length including ovary 22mm. Pedicel 90% the length of the relatively short, straight spathe.
The outer segments are usually flattened and flared outwards at the edges, giving a frilled appearance, and are approximately 14mm long by 14mm wide, white with an emerald green, inverted heart mark at the apex, sometimes bleeding back towards the base. This mark continues as green striations all the way to the base on the underside of the outer segments. ‘Claw’ 3mm.
The inner segments are also slightly flared at the margins, with a deep, narrow sinus. The inner segment mark is a deeper green X, the underside of the outer segments being almost entirely green, other than a white margin. The flower is scented.

NARCISSUS

NARCISSUS