Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose)
A week ago my friend and I travelled 70 miles north into southern Virginia to attend a hellebore festival at Pine Knot Farms (PKF).
I learned of this event a few years ago when the hellebore nursery owners, Dick Tyler and Judith Knott Tyler, spoke at a local garden club meeting. The couple holds this open house annually for three weekends in late winter, obviously the time when hellebores are in season.
Two years ago I had attempted to visit Pine Knot Farms but my travel plans were thwarted by an ice storm. So when after a fundraiser event last spring my friend ended up with two gift certificates for PKF, I jumped at the chance to try again to visit this nursery.
Weather in February is particularly variable and unpredictable. This year our trip seemed threatened again.
A week before the festival started, another big snow and ice storm arrived. Fortunately the ice cleared up quickly though and the day of our visit was picture-book lovely, deep blue sky, sunny and temperatures in mid-60s F. [Where I reside in piedmont North Carolina, people are used to this back and forth kind of weather, often remarking they like living in a place where they can experience four distinct seasons of the year, sometimes all in one day.]
We arrived at the hellebore festival in the late morning, about an hour after opening, surprised there were not larger crowds. We parked easily and were directed toward the greenhouses.
At the first greenhouse we were quickly ushered in and greeted by friendly smiles, shown coffee and cookies.
Hellebores-Pine Knot Farms
Next we were given guidelines about where to find each category of hellebore: seedlings on this table (some from their friends Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne at Northwest Garden Nursery), other vendors offering spring ephemerals here, all PKF singles in the back set of greenhouses on the left, PKF doubles in the greenhouse on the right (or vice-versa).
Already by this time, just hearing these directions, I was overwhelmed and I think my friend was as well.
In anticipation of this trip I had tried to prepare myself by looking on PKF’s website at the categories of hellebores they sell: Hellebores species, Interspecies Hybrids, Helleborus x hybrids, and Northwest Garden Nursery Hellebores. But despite this minor research and later during the trip, despite several engaging conversations with willing and knowledgeable staff, I was hesitant about how to sort out the differences among the hellebores being offered.
Many of the hellebores were not yet in bloom and later we wondered if our choices would have been made easier by visiting the third weekend of the festival rather than the first. Perhaps more flowers would have been open and that would have made it easier for an hellebore novices like us to decide.
Hellebores Near Entry Table at Pine Knot Farms
I wish I had just pointed to some of the flowers floating in dishes and asked for them, but in the end it all went fine. Even though we never found hellebore enlightenment we had a good time exploring the offerings.
Before I could get started shopping for hellebores, I became distracted by other vendor tables, including one with a beautiful array of Cyclamen coum. There was also a nice display of primroses in bloom and affordably priced, but I decided to concentrate first on the hellebores. I do regret not picking up a few of these cyclamen.
Cyclamen coum
We made our way into the back greenhouses. Along the route there were a few other temptations, in particular daphnes and a really nice edgeworthia.
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose)
Soon we were carrying around pots of hellebores. A white double with greenish overtones was the first plant I chose. I also found a single with a greenish cast.
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose) -double
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose)
Below is another single that was especially charming. The green coloring with tinges of red/pink reminds me of apple.
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose)
I selected other hellebores in Golden Sunrise and Apricot Blush color ranges. The apricot blush is not yet blooming but the golden sunrise has two flowers.
Helleborus Winter Jewels ‘Golden Sunrise’ -Hellebore Orientalis
One color I was especially interested in acquiring was dark purple. I had already picked up one of these Black Diamonds without a bloom. When I asked about finding others the man I spoke to said he and others had been commenting that this year the darks are scarce. He accompanied me back to the seedlings table to help me search.
Helleborus Winter Jewels Black Diamond (Hellebore Orientalis)
While we were talking he stopped suddenly having spotted this little plant, also a seedling. He suggested it was unusual and I might want to buy it because of it unusual marking. I did.
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose)
One useful tip he offered was that it can be more successful to gather ripened seeds and toss them where you want new plants, instead of transplanting the the little seedlings that spring up on their own.
Eventually my friend and I settled on our purchases. She generously shared a gift certificate with me, making check-out time a lot less painful. Back in Chapel Hill we discussed hellebores over a late lunch.
Unfortunately I did not get a picture of her plants before we parted; however, within a few minutes after returning home I was photographing my new plants on the front porch.
Hellebore Purchases From Pine Knot Farms
Serendipitously, a neighbor stopped by my house, opened her car trunk and lifted out two Bearclaw hellebores she had dug from her yard that morning for me. A nice gesture.
Helleborus Foetidus (Bearclaw Hellebore) from my neighbor
Visiting the hellebore nursery made for a fun expedition and I was happy at the chance to expand my collection. Hellebores are winter-flowering wonders.
pbmGarden 
I know these folks from my years as an artist. I have never been there. Thanks for this “tour”. I hope I can go some day.
Nice people. Next weekend is the last one for this year I think. You’d probably enjoy!
Your selections are lovely especially the Golden sunrise. I’m not able to pick from a specialized nursery so I placed a catalog order but won’t get them until May. Did he say why spreading seeds is better than transplanting seedlings? I have plenty of seedlings around an original plant but I would like to move them to a better location.
He suggested it was hard to move the young seedlings without harming the roots and it’s more direct to place them where you want them to begin with.
If you already have some I’d go ahead and try it though. I have had some success moving them.
Thank you. I’ll try when it’s warm enough to move them. I don’t want too many of the same color at one spot.
I am no longer allowed to go to the nursery without adult supervision, I am too easily distracted by and drawn to beautiful blooming plants.
I can relate–blooming plants have that kind of magical power.
I could go for that ‘Black Diamond’ also – though I have a pet peeve about calling flowers black when they are really deep purple.
I agree using black for purple just sets us up for disappointment. I actually saw one of these in bloom but someone had chosen it by the time I came back to get it. Definitely not black but nice.
How wonderful to see all those hellebores, if they had all been in bloom you would have been spoilt for choice! We are going north next weekend to visit relatives and will be stopping at a hellebore nursery on the way, I am sure I’ll be tempted too!
It was fun. If more had been blooming I’d probably have been planting hellebores for weeks Pauline. Hope you find some nice temptations.
I love that Golden Sunrise flower Susie! A day out at a special nursery sounds like my kind of fun. I hope your purchases all thrive well for you!
Thanks Cathy, yes that’s the next step–getting them to grow here.
A wonderful collection they should provide a great display for many seasons to come.
Thanks Brian. I do think it’s amazing plants can flower in winter so these will help extend my garden quite a bit. And I love plants that don’t need much care.
Wow – what a great blog post – thank you for sharing. I could imagine if not in bloom, would be a challenge, hope they had some bloom pics to accompany each offering. What a fun day tho-I would have loved it – Hellebores are a fav – they work very well in containers and patio pots too, such a tough plant.
I’ve never tried them in containers. Good to know they do well. It really was a fun day–glad we went. There were some labels in front of the seedling sections, but not in the two back greenhouses (one of singles, one of doubles). Yesterday I went to a local garden center and there were pots of hellebores in full bloom. They were much more expensive though.
Yes, I find the Hellebores are expensive at the nurseries and stores – yet, I’m not sure why so high. Glad you got to see so many at your tour – enjoyed your post!
Thanks Cathy. Wish more of these hellebores had been blooming. It would have made it easier to choose, but what an interesting place to visit.
I’d never have been able to choose. What an opportunity. I was in the market for hellebores last week and didn’t find any for a reasonable price.
Choice was certainly difficult but glad we went. Hope you find some hellebores…
How wonderful to have a hellebore day. It is so difficult to choose when confronted by so many beauties. I am sure your new acquisitions will give you years of pleasure.
It was a fun outing. If I were to go again I’d have a better strategy for how to choose, but I’m happy with the new hellebores. Have a great day!
What a fun trip and a great opportunity to purchase such beautiful plants. Love the green. 🙂
Tempting times for the next few months. I love shopping for plants.
Here hellebores bloom in spring and they are just starting…what a wonderful festival….I am not sure how restrained I could be in buying only so many!