NARCISSUS
NARCISSUS
DRYAD INTRODUCTIONS
ESTONIAN SPIRIT SNOWDROPS
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The Estonian Spirit Group of snowdrops were discovered by renowned Estonian plantsman Taavi Tuulik in abandoned gardens and woods in Estonia and named as part of the Spirit family due to their pale, ghostly coloration and residual presence in abandoned or secluded areas.
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As a group they are distinct by their generally compact stature, very pale leaves and ethereal colouring of ovary and inner mark – a very pale creamy yellow. A distinctive and outstanding diminutive form of G. nivalis, and a very different treasure for your collection.
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Taavi named Estonian Spirit ‘Kullake’ to mark the beauty of the series he had discovered. Taavi has very strict naming guidelines and only opted to name two others in the series so far – ‘Hõbevalge’, an albino, and 'Kudrus'.
Some clones were sent to Dryad Nursery for assessment. Our review established that many were sufficiently distinctive to warrant a name under normal circumstances BUT we honour Taavi's wish to restrict the number named.
However, these plants are distinctive and worthy of being made available to serious collectors of yellow and unusual snowdrops. Indeed I have had many requests to release some. We are therefore offering a limited series via our normal market methods. To assist those few collectors who may already own any of the group, we retain Taavi’s original numbering to identify the clones offered.
The descriptions given below are based on the quite small numbers of each clone that I grow – if anything changes upon further observation, I will update the description.
Taavi’s own notes are given in italics.
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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
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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.
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'KULLAKE'
Photos Taavi Tuulik
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The most desirable snowdrops for the collector are those varieties whose uniqueness and distinctiveness ensure they stand out from the crowd. Such a snowdrop is ‘Kullake’.
Exceptionally rare - an outstanding, compact nivalis, very pale and spectral throughout with a narrow, pale yellow mark on inner segments and pale yellow ovary. Even the leaves are pale and silvery. The stunning ghostly appearance makes this a very beautiful and striking addition to the yellow snowdrop group and a real eye catcher.
Found in 2006 in an abandoned garden in Allika village by Taavi Tuulik, Hiiumaa Island, Estonia as a clump of 5-6 bulbs. ‘Kullake’ ( pronounced 'Kooll-ah-kay' ) means, in Estonian, 'sweetheart', but it is also a diminutive form of kuld (gold).
Frequent dividing is recommended for this variety. Kullake means, in Estonian, 'sweetheart' (or something like that), but it is also a diminutive form from kuld (gold).
You can hear the pronunciation in youtube (in the very first phrase) and enjoy some Estonian music!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2MRcHD2LMc
The first named variety of the Estonian Spirit Group, and the smallest of the group found so far, usually flowering at only 5cm high.
As you would expect from a miniature variety, ‘Kullake’ has naturally very small bulbs, but it increases well.
2009/CS1 - 'KUDRUS'
Helvetica Light is an easy to read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.
This is a gorgeous clone - a group in flower give the appearance of a clump of tiny lampshades. Possibly my favourite! As it is so distinct, Taavi has agreed to name it as 'Kudrus' which means 'Tiny Pearl'.
The ovary and flowers are both distinctly rounded, the cupped outer segments having a distinct shoulder after the claw. The short pedicel holds the voluptuous little flower close to the straight spathe. The colour of the ovary and inner mark are a pale pistachio when grown under glass. The silvery leaves are erect and about half the height of the flowers. Mid height, flowering at about 10cm.
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Found on the Island of Hiiumaa, Jõe village, in an abandoned garden in 2007
Height (scape + spathe) 10 cm, outer segments 18 mm, ovary globose.
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Käina 2007/3
Helvetica Light is an easy to read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.
Collected in Käina village, 2007
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Charming tiny variety with very pale yellow mark on inners and matching ovary. The outer segments more rounded and cupped than Kullake. Leaves are very pale glaucous. Flowering height approximately 6cm. The flower hangs on a long pedicel from a curved spathe. Rapid increase.
Taavi's own garden seedling
Found in Taavi's own garden in 2008 . Flowering height to 9cm here. Very pale mark and ovary. The inner mark has a very narrow delicate 'bridge'. The outer segments are shouldered after the claw. Upright, pale foliage
2009/CS4
This clone is distinctive for its darker, more olive yellow mark, with a very narrow bridge, contrasting with a clear yellow, more rounded ovary. The flower hangs free of the spathe on a fairly long pedicel, the thicker textured outer segments being fairly strongly cupped, with a short claw. Flowers at 7cm high here. Leaves short at flowering.
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Found on the Island of Kassari, Esiküla village, in an abandoned garden in 2007 (= Esiküla 2007)
Height 14 cm, outer segments 20 mm, leaves glaucous.
2009/CS9
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One of the taller clones at 12 cm in flower, the foliage more spreading than CS5 and CS6. Having the largest flowers of the group, the flower has a distinctive pale olive ovary which is often square shouldered or flat where it meets the pedicel. The outer segments are strongly cupped laterally. The inner segments are long relative to the outers and have a very pale olive mark that usually turns up at the ends in a ‘smile’. It is free flowering.
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Found on the Island of Hiiumaa, Luidja village, naturalized population in alder forest, 2006.
Height 14 cm, outer segments 23 mm, inner segment marks very pale.
2009/CS10
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The long ovary and markings are very pale. Flowering height approximately 6cm. The flower has a streamlined, elongated appearance, which along with the stiffly upright silvery foliage makes the whole plant look very narrow.
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Collected on the Island of Kassari, Esiküla village, in an abandoned garden in 2007. Height 10 cm (only grows to 6cm here) , outer segments 17 mm, leaves glaucous, inner segment marks very pale.