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| Pink and spotted Hellebores orientalis hybrid in our Shade Path this week. |
I was out with an umbrella yesterday afternoon to get a few photos of the Lenten Roses (
Hellebores) blooming in our Pennsylvania, zone 5 garden. These may be nothing new to the blogging world, but they are are real and beautiful to us!
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| This Hellebores hybrid has a much more upright habit than the others. This photo is looking straight on it, without any flower support (as is normally needed for photographing Hellebores). |
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| This dark-flowered Hellebores variety is striking. It goes very well with the dark purple crocuses and snowdrops in the area. |
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| On the path of our garden, I look down on the rain drops on the backs of the petals... |
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| ...But walking down below on the sidewalk (see The Shade Path on our map), you get a great view of the flowers. I planted these for some friends on a retaining wall at the back of their house, which gives them a similar view. Good to keep in mind that these can be better viewed at an elevation. |
They are very low-maintenance plant, only needing to have their old leave cut off during early spring clean-up and given them some mulch in drier shade areas.
Do make sure to clean your scissors or pruners between each plant that you trim to avoid spreading any potential infections, as is good practice in the garden, even though it is unlikely to occur with these plants. They are extremely pest and disease free.
What do you have blooming in your garden these days?
Hellebores are one of my favourite flowers anyway but the dark flowered variety you have truly is stunning.
ReplyDeleteI do have a tag for that one.... need to look for it. :) Thanks!
Delete~Julie
My mom always had hellebores when I was growing up, but it wasn't until I started blogging that I realized how popular they are, or how many varieties exist. They were the first plants I brought in to my new house, and they've done really well this winter. Something that is encouraging me to do more this spring!!
ReplyDeleteThey are an encouraging, easy plant to start with! And they look more beautiful each year.
Delete~Julie
Hellebores are essential for our woodland garden, would hate to be without them. There is such a variety of colours, shapes, doubles, spotted, singles or anemone centred, etc, we are spoilt for choice. I keep telling myself that I don't need to buy any more, then I see one that is just so gorgeous, it has to come home with me!
ReplyDeleteI hope to have a collection like yours someday, Pauline! They are a treasure in these early spring months.
Delete~Julie
I'm not a hellebore person, but I think I will get some this fall.
ReplyDeleteI think you will be "one of those people" then. Glad to have helped :)
Delete~Julie
Beautiful Hellebores, Julie. I'm glad you shared them even though other bloggers have had them flowering for a while it is nice to think about you enjoying them now. My tulips are flowering now and this year there are so many. Christina
ReplyDeleteWe are a bit behind, but enjoying spring at last! :) You tulips are always fabulous! Looking forward to seeing them.
Delete~Julie
I need to plant some hellebores this year. My mom has some beautiful ones in her garden and they make great cut flowers. Right now my snowdrops are blooming and my other bulbs are just starting to poke their heads through the ground. It has been cold here in Michigan, but better than that crazy Spring last year that killed all the cherry and apple blossoms. But I'm ready for Spring!
ReplyDeleteSusan
Beautiful hellebores! Your photos are stunning! I like that tip about cleaning your pruners between each plant. I makes so much sense and in the end can save you from losing plants...going to slow down and do that this season!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice Julie about the pruners and cleaning them to avoid the spread of disease. I have a few blooming but the cold weather has kept snowdrops, crocus and iris reticulata as my only blooms.
ReplyDeleteMine are beginning to bloom, too. We've had some freezing temperatures at night, so I've been covering them. But that probably wouldn't be necessary since they're so hardy. I can't really explain why I enjoy them so much, but I do. They were beginning to set buds back in December, but held off until now--covered for months with leaves and snow, and surviving several bursts of subzero weather. How can a person not appreciate this plant!
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely and worthwhile going out in the rain for a shot! If it hadn't been for hellebores there would be little else looking good in my garden this last month or so!
ReplyDeleteI need to add more of these to my garden - I love the colors you have!
ReplyDelete