Tag Archives: Hellebore

In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

With temperatures forecast to fall below freezing Sunday morning I cut flowers on Saturday for today’s vase.

My pass-along button chrysanthemums are having a banner year. Held on tall plant the fluffy pale yellow flowers lighten as they age, fading gracefully toward white with hints of pink.

Button Chrysanthemum

Button Chrysanthemum (Passalong from Virgie)

A blogging friend suggested this reblooming iris might be ‘Autumn Circus.’ I read there are so many irises with this pattern they are very hard to be certain of unless you grow one of known variety next to yours. Our fall weather in central North Carolina has been so agreeable (except for lack of rain) that irises have been blooming for over a month. I was compelled to include one in today’s last pre-frost vase.

Tall bearded iris

Leaves of the Eastern Redbud glimmered in the afternoon sun while I was planting bulbs the other day. Up close they are marked by the aging cycle and the effect of cold weather but still I find them beautiful. I cut a long branch that initially rose above the iris but eventually I cut it down.

Cercis Leaf With chrysanthemums and iris

The red vase and black vase is a mismatch in color but was the perfect height and shape to hold the flowers without the assistance of mechanics. I wish I’d kept looking to find the right vase but life has been busy and there was no time to second-guess. Often things like this are exaggerated in photographs but really look fine in person, but actually the red looks odd in person also. A few more handfuls of chrysanthemums cascading over the lip of the vase could hide that red and possibly make the entire design more interesting. I trust you to picture it in your mind’s eye.

Materials
Flowers
Button chrysanthemum
Tall bearded iris
Foliage
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
Hellebore
Container
Raku vase, Charles Chrisco, Chrisco’s Pottery

In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn

Thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

Wordless Wednesday – Spring By The Front Corner

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Daphne odora (Winter daphne) – View from front porch

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe

Helleborus x hybridus

Wordless Wednesday – Signs

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Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)

Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake) hanging above Columbine

Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’

Helleborus x hybridus ‘Frostkiss™ Penny’s Pink’

Helleborus Honeymoon ® ‘Vegas Nights’

In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

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In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

Cold and rain are due back Monday but Sunday brought respite—sunshine and temperatures reaching 77 degrees. Mostly weeds are blooming here, but also I spotted the first yellow of daffodil, not quite open but the sighting is reassuring.

Around the garden hellebores at last are filling out and I included a creamy double in today’s vase. It proved to be floppy-headed but I could not be deterred.

Helleborus x hybridus

The rich color of Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’ is thrilling to see. I find it very difficult to grow and after many years of introducing new corms again only a couple of plants have shown up.

I grew ‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe from seed last year. It got off to a late start and suffered through last summer’s heat. But a few plants have overwintered. I am not sure if the mottled appearance of the leaves is normal but all the plants turned out this way. I have seen cerinthe in other’s Monday vases that is more dark purplish and green and had expected this to look similar.

‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe and Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’

Daphne odora appeared ready to bloom a few weeks ago. I found one stem with flowers that have opened but most are still holding back. The lemony fragrance is delectable.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Materials
Flowers
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower-filled vases across the world. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

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Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

While so many people suffered from snow, ice and lost power, we felt fortunate to have had merely another cold, rainy week and then the winter sun even reigned over the weekend. Late afternoon yesterday I gathered hellebores and placed them into one of my favorite containers, a porcelain Ikebana vase titled Rectangle Blue Zen.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

The hellebores are very late this year and most have not begun blooming. These come from a patch along the north side of our house.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
None
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower-filled vases across the world. Visit her to discover what surprises she and others found to place in a vase this week.

In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

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In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

More rain has kept the garden drenched, but the sun has sparkled here and there. Days seem longer and I feel general optimism that spring is nearby. The hellebores and winter daphne remain timid about blooming, but even one open winter daphne flower is a fragrant treat.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

The purple, heavy glass dish measure 3-inches in diameter and may actually be a candle holder, although I bought it several years ago for tiny flowers.

A couple of indoor cyclamen offered up one bloom each for this week’s diminutive vase. I also braved cutting one of 4 orchid stems from a gifted Christmas plant to make the purple vase pop.

In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

Materials
Flowers
Cyclamen
Orchid
Foliage
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Container
Purple glass vase, 3-inch diameter

In A Vase On Monday – Tardy

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In A Vase On Monday – Tardy

Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Tardy

As it is Tuesday there is no denying my unpunctuality so I have duly noted it in my title. The hellebores and winter daphne deserve their share of the title as well—both seem a bit late this year by at least two weeks compared to last year.

A couple of hellebores braved 2021 last week and a few more buds are visible at ground level, but I had thought there would be plenty in flower by this week’s vase time. Instead of flowers we have suffered rain (sorry Kris!). Sunday it was pouring rivers all day long, perhaps the hellebores were glad they had stayed tucked away. I know more hellebores will be open soon so I gathered what I could.

Helleborus x hybridus

Similarly Daphne odora (Winter daphne), which first flowered last year on January 6, is delayed by comparison; however, my two shrubs promise many flowers and rich fragrance in due time.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus
Foliage
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Lavender
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

Wishing you a great week. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower-filled vases across the world. Visit her to discover what surprises she and others found to place in a vase this week.

Wordless Wednesday – Beginnings

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Helleborus x hybridus First hellebore to bloom this year–this one opened yesterday in the northern side garden.

Helleborus x hybridus opened today in southwest corner of the garden.

In A Vase On Monday – Purple-Blue With Light

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In A Vase On Monday – Purple-Blue With Light

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

Last week’s vase included a single anemone. A few more anemones bloomed midweek and finding them precious, I brought them indoors to enjoy. They lasted well tucked loosely into a small Caithness bud vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Purple-Blue With Light

Outdoors in the garden yesterday I clipped one more ‘Mr Fokker’ not quite open, along with several tiny sprigs of candytuft and grape hyacinths, and a handful of leucojum.

In A Vase On Monday – Purple-Blue With Light

The vase barely had room to hold the additional stems but its colored glass seemed perfect so I kept stuffing them in.

Photographed in late afternoon light the vase eventually ended up in front of our daughter’s carved box of mahogany and tigerwood.

In A Vase On Monday – Purple-Blue With Light

Materials
Flowers
Anemone De Caen ‘Mr Fokker’
Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
Container
Caithness glass bud vase

An earlier idea for presentation had awkward proportions but I like the rabbit.

In A Vase On Monday – Purple-Blue With Light

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower-filled vases across the world. Visit her to discover what she and others found to place in a vase this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Color Burst

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In A Vase On Monday – Color Burst

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

A snow storm passed through Thursday, flattening most of the daffodils. I picked a few for a vase today but actually I had a different flower in mind to feature. I planted 100 Anemone De Caen ‘Mr Fokker’ last year and disappointingly only 5 or 6 survived. The first bloom emerged from the snow unscathed. It opened Sunday and I designated it star of today’s vase, pairing it with hellebores.

Anemone De Caen ‘Mr Fokker’

In A Vase On Monday – Color Burst

Modest in size the anemone was nearly overwhelmed by its taller and bulkier companions but I liked the rich color palette the hellebores added.

In A Vase On Monday – Color Burst

The shorter hellebore in front is Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’ and the taller one at back right is Helleborus x hybridus ‘Frostkiss™ Penny’s Pink’.

Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’ PPAF

Helleborus x hybridus ‘Frostkiss™ Penny’s Pink’

The white/green with pink touches is an unnamed hybrid.

Helleborus x hybridus With Helleborus x hybridus ‘Frostkiss™ Penny’s Pink’

Materials
Flowers and Foliage
Anemone De Caen ‘Mr Fokker’
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Frostkiss™ Penny’s Pink’
Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’ PPAF
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

In A Vase On Monday – Color Burst

In A Vase On Monday – Cream To Green

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In A Vase On Monday – Cream To Green

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

A dreamy creamy Hellebore, one I have featured before, called my attention again this week. This hybrid purchased from Pine Knot Farms in Virginia in 2016 has been magnificent this season.

In A Vase On Monday – Cream To Green

Now that the plant has been in bloom for a few weeks it is interesting to observe how the early ivory buds open to reveal green at center and on the outermost petals before maturing to delicate green.

Helleborus x hybridus

Materials
Flowers and Foliage
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Container
Blue ceramic mug with botanical design

Helleborus x hybridus

Part Of A Landscape

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Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)

Singer and songwriter James Taylor grew up in Chapel Hill, exploring as a child the wooded banks of Morgan Creek before the land along there was developed and fashioned into suburbia. He references this place in his song “Copperline.”

Speaking with Rolling Stone in 2015, Taylor said: “This is another song about home, about my father, about a childhood that was very peaceful, which is a rare thing today. I felt like I was part of a landscape in those days – the trees, the streams and the rivers, the animals that lived there.”
Songfacts. Retrieved February 8, 2020.

During my college days at Carolina, Taylor’s unique voice was a constant in our dorm, as roommate, suite mates and I sang and danced along. I can easily place my freshman self right back at his concert in Carmichael Auditorium, listening to bittersweet sound of “Fire and Rain,” cheering the spirit of his “Carolina In My Mind,” and believing him when he sang “You’ve Got a Friend.”

It was Carole King’s lyrics of this last song that set me thinking down this path this morning, “Winter, spring, summer, or fall.” Our weather is more likely to be “winter, spring, winter, spring, summer, winter, summer, fall, actually summer again, eventually fall, just kidding–summer…” and that is just during a two-week period. It was winter here again at early morning, 27 degrees F. with frosty coatings atop the grass and plants in the garden.

Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)

Another line from “You’ve Got a Friend” rang true as well this week: “If the sky… above you should turn dark and full of clouds.” The past few days here were marked by fierce rain, wind and tornado warnings. The river birch easily gave up stray branches all over the yard, the garden sank below standing water for a while. Some trees were down, lots of neighbors lost power, but we were spared. I righted new pots of hellebores that were blown over from a spot where they have been patiently waiting to be planted. If it will dry out a bit I can see that happening soon.

Hellebores

After several weeks of cautious peeking, Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and ‘King Alfred’ had finally begun opening earlier in the week, just before being battered by rain

Daffodils In The Rain

Narcissus

Fortunately daffodils are as resilient as they are bright and cheerful.

Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)

Winter daphne is beginning to exhibit tiredness and a few of the flowers have begun to fade. The intoxicating fragrance was heightened earlier in the week when temperatures reached 70s, but was not detectable early this cold morning. The sky at 9 a.m. was rich with blue, but gloomy gray clouds descended soon thereafter and hung over the day.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Planted last May this perennial seems poised to flower: Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Ballerina Lilac’. I am anxious to see how it performs but it does seem to have made a too early appearance.

Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Ballerina Lilac’

I planted over a hundred anemone bulbs in the borders last year. They are very short-lived in my garden but a disappointing number, most in fact, failed to live or show up at all, perhaps victims of squirrels and voles. Now a few extras that I had stuck into plastic pots and tucked among some other plants have emerged the past few weeks. The flower heads are tucked down. Blue or white? Anemone De Caen ‘Mr Fokker’ or A. St Brigid ‘Mt Everest’, which one survived?

Anemone

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores and Brass

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Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

It was beautiful and sunny yesterday with temperatures in the low 60s. In contrast Friday was rainy and so cold sleet glanced off my windshield for about sixty seconds when I was driving home after teaching an afternoon yoga class. Welcome to North Carolina where we frequently remind each other if you don’t like the weather just wait a day. It will change.

Hellebores continue their reign over the garden this week. It has become challenging to find a new way to present them. I considered floating some in a shallow dish, but chose instead to stage them without water at all, tucked into a brass sculpture created by my husband years ago. Visible in the background is a second taller sculpture and a box of paperwhites about to rebloom from last year.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
Paperwhite narcissus
Container
Brass sculpture

No hellebores were harmed in this production. Soon after being photographed they were safely returned to a small vase of water. I have had good luck keeping hellebores in vases for a week or more this year. That has not always been the case, but I have not treated them in any special way.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Flowers In A Mug

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In A Vase On Monday – Winter Flowers In A Mug

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Flowers In A Mug

Walking though the garden I can almost hear plants murmuring, barely able to hold back their energy and excitement. Daffodils buds are beginning to show color but none have opened. Yesterday I discovered a fat bud on a bearded iris–the first Iris germanica to appear so early.

But the week belongs to Hellebores.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Flowers In A Mug

The flowers are served in a large pale yellow Fiestaware soup mug and photographed on the back screened porch in remnants of the late afternoon sun.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Flowers In A Mug

Several sprigs of fresh silvery-gray Artemisia foliage is tucked underneath the blooms.

Artemisia and Hellebores

Individual faces capture my heart. Some blush.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Some have freckles.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

This one is elongated with two green petals accented in pink.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Container
Fiestaware Jumbo Soup Mug

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

If one can have a favorite it has to be this white double. Creamy and pure, with triangular petals, and unfortunately the least prolific, it was purchased at Pine Knot Farm in Virginia in 2016. I expect the plant will continue to bulk up each year.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Winter Garden

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Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

After some very cold days this week with lows around 26 and highs in the 40s, today feels much more moderate, overcast with high of 65. Despite the cold spell Daphne odora (Winter daphne) still scents the air deliciously but the foliage has yellowed a bit. There are two Daphnes planted in front of the house. A variegated one, Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata,’ succumbed suddenly a couple of years ago.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

More hellebores are opening around the garden. Some I bought and planted 18 years ago, some were a gift from garden club friend, Vicki, about 2006. In February 2016 I added a few more specialty ones from Pine Knot Farms in Virginia that seem to open later.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Daffodils are primed, cautiously holding back. Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft) is waking.

Narcissus With Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)

Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)

January Awakenings

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On January 4, 2020 little tight hellebore buds were tucked in close to the earth. I just checked on them yesterday and they seemed content to stay hidden. Today they have awakened.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Yesterday the lemony scent of daphne odora drifted through the air and with today’s breezes the effect is more pronounced.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Biding Time

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Sitting patiently. Quietly waiting. In the rain.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

In A Vase On Monday—Orchid Blush

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Monday brings the chance to share cut flowers from the garden by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday.

Early Sunday afternoon it was too icy for me to get out to check for any Hellebores that might be flowering on the northern side of the house. Instead I resorted to using indoor blooms, three flowers from a holiday Phalaenopsis.

A curved section of the orchid stem and a wrapped Warneckii leaf placed in a new white oval container (2.5 x 2.5 inches) made a quick arrangement.

In A Vase On Monday – Orchid Blush

Not really pleased with the result, I tried again. Later in the day after sun had worked its magic against the ice, I ventured out to collect a few hellebores. Many were stuck under the ice, but I did find a few to use. On the way back inside I even plucked a deep purplish-red pansy.

In A Vase On Monday

The second version made for a happier vase on Monday.

Orchid, Pansy and Hellebore

Materials
Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)
‘Lemon Lime’ Warneckii
Pansy
Hellebore

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower addiction. It is always interesting and insightful to visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday and feel free to join in.

In A Vase On Monday—Ruby Moon And Star

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In A Vase On Monday – Ruby Moon And Star

This last Monday of 2015 brings the chance to share cut flowers from the garden by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday.

Do you know the term Full Cold Moon? It is new to me, but suddenly this year I began seeing it frequently in the news. “December’s full moon, the last of the year, is called the Full Cold Moon because it occurs during the beginning of winter (NASA).”

This year there was a full moon on Christmas day for the first time since 1977 (the next occurrence is not until 2034). Not surprisingly, given all the rain lately, it was cloudy here as the moon peaked (6:11 a.m. EST), but later we were able to glimpse the rare lunar event.

Inspired by December’s special moon, for this week’s arrangement I started by selecting the container—a ruby moon and star cut glass bowl that usually sits on my dining room buffet. I added only a few flowers allowing the intricate pattern to stand out as the main feature of the design.

In A Vase On Monday – Ruby Moon And Star

Hellebores are beginning to flower and I was able to find one to float in the dish.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

To set adrift alongside the hellebore I collected some colorful pansies from the meditation garden.

Pansies with a sprig of Angelina sedum

The crystal bowl is rather deep. Concerned the pansies were not sturdy enough to sit in such a large amount of water, I placed them into a pair of floating glass globes.

Pansies held in floating glass globes

The floating globes, a recent hostess gift from my yoga friend Corrina, are lovely I think and are sure to be very useful. Designed with a well in the center to hold tea lights, they worked great for the pansies also.

In A Vase On Monday – Ruby Moon And Star

Materials

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Viola tricolor var. hortensis (Pansy)
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ (Angelina Stonecrop)

Here are the moon and star details, with the hellebore peeking though one of the moons.

Hellebore, framed by the moon

As 2015 comes to a close, I would like to offer a big thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower addiction. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

January Signals

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The garden is waking up. Lenten roses opened mid-month and today, the first Daffodils. A nice clump of Iberis Sempervirens (Candytuft) brightens a spot near a walkway.

[Note: I learned yesterday Helleborus x hybridus is the acceptable way to refer to Lenten Rose, instead of the previously accepted term, Helleborus orientalis, which I have been using.]

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten rose)-January 12, 2013

Transitions

A Garden Highlight

An exciting highlight is the single bloom on the peony recently added to the garden, Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait.’ Although its planting tag indicated a June bloom, it was ready yesterday without regard to the calendar, as was the gardener.

Paeonia 'Pink Parfait'

Changes Bring Chores

As the focus transitions away from roses and irises there are many required tasks this week that will help keep the garden looking nice. The faded iris blooms and the bloom stalks need to trimmed back to tidy up, although the leaves need to remain for several months before being trimmed back to 6 inches in a fan shape. Is this the year the irises will finally get divided?

Rose Campion

The southern path is full of white rose campion, but none of the favored magenta-hued rose campion survived the winter. Deadheading is a must if they are to continue to look attractive and to keep them from self-sowing so heavily.

The many Eastern Red Columbine is done for this year and needs to be cut back severely; it will maintain a nice green mound all summer.

Tradescantia is pretty now but needs to be thinned, as it has spread too widely. Many were sheared heavily ten days ago. The daylilies, the sweet peas–all overgrown. The spirea finished its bloom weeks ago and should be pruned back hard to maintain its size. Other chores abound. The fence installation was completed last week and paths to the gates need to be improved.

How to finish planting the meditation circle is still an interesting problem to solve, something to ponder while working on these maintenance tasks this week and contemplating transitions.

End-of-Winter Beginning-of-Spring Inventory

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March 20, 2011. Today in this Northern Hemisphere town of Chapel Hill, N.C., the vernal equinox occurs at 6:21 pm. This seems like a good time to inventory the garden.

The newly planted Blue Point Juniper hedge is doing well, but will not be providing much screening for several years.

Hyacinth

The earliest of the daffodils and the burgundy hyacinths are at the end of their bloom cycle. Iberis sempervirens (candytuft) and Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) are opening slowly. Several sedums are emerging (the rabbits must be pleased).

Tradescantia (Spiderwort) is coming up in various spots and a few echinacea (Purple coneflower) have returned.

The first flower is open today on the White Flowering Dogwood, while ‘Flower Carpet’ Narcissus have been lovely for a week or more.

Coral Delight Camellia

A nice surprise in the garden today.

The spring-blooming camellia ‘Coral Delight’ popped out when I was not looking. I missed checking on it yesterday and today discovered several blossoms had opened wide.

Daylilies attract the deer so I am trying to pull out many of them. I must hurry to finish the job before they grow any larger or they will be too tough to dig out. Some of the resulting space freed so far was used to transplant a few Shasta daisies.

Hellebore- Lenten Rose

Hellebore (Lenten Rose), which opened one month ago, continue to bloom profusely in their charming manner.

The newly planted Sweet William is doing well and the evergreen ~~Heuchera~~Penstemon is recovering from the long winter. Digitalis Purpurea ‘Alba’ or ‘Camelot White’ (Foxglove) looks promising.

Small pink yarrow, tansy, lamb’s ears and rose campion (shown here), all rather aggressive growers, are coming back strong.

The old-fashioned spirea is the star in its section of the garden, brightening up the entire space of the western border. (A pink saucer magnolia behind the spirea is a fortunate example of a borrowed view.)

Spirea

Nearby the Eastern Redbud competes for attention, deservedly so.

Redbud

Just one week ago the Jackmanii clematis had new leaves, but was still largely brown. Today it is lush with green.

Echinacea

Several ~~black-eyed Susans~~ echinacea (purple coneflower) seem pleased with their new location along the southern path. They were transplanted last year from an over-crowded spot where they did not have have enough sun.

Russian Sage and Bee Balm

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) is another transplant to this section of the garden; Monarda (Bee Balm) is just starting to emerge in this and several other sections of the garden.

Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox) has been blooming all over town but started opening only today in this garden.

Creeping Phlox

Phlox divaricata (Woodland phlox) has been a favorite in this garden, but it has not bloomed well in several years.

Woodland phlox

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern Red Columbine) is quickly unfolding in several spots around the garden.

Eastern red columbine

Salvia (Meadow Sage) has started to form buds.

Meadow Sage

An iceberg rose should have been pruned earlier, but it is now getting its leaves. The deer find it delicious. There are several perky mounds of catmint. Sword-like leaves of these bearded iris seem to grow inches daily. The garden also has German, Japanese and Siberian iris and a couple of Dutch iris.

Catmint, Iceberg Rose and Iris

In some ways the garden appears bare but there are many other plants not even mentioned. The inventory will have to be continued later. One last thought for today though.

As I go about renovating this garden, I do recognize that improving the overall design and structure (or “bones) will make the garden more interesting year-round. I have read that just having a collection of plants does not make a garden. But at this time of year seeing my particular group of plants develop and mature provides immeasurable delight and satisfaction. It is like having old friends come to visit. And it feels like a garden.

More Hellebores

Hellebore Treasures

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After several days of preoccupation with pruning and planting, today’s walk around the garden yielded a nice surprise. The hellebores are blooming!

When did that happen? Went back and checked yesterday’s pictures. As it turns out the camera captured hellebores in bloom yesterday, but their flowering status was unnoticed until today. So some time between February 14 and 19 the hellebores began their extended blooming season.

The redbud shows some winter damage, but nevertheless appears ready to put on a show in a few weeks; spirea is greening out; daffodils are forming flowers; the lemony scent of Daphne odora sends a welcome greeting as several blossoms open.

pbmGarden

Sense of place, purpose, rejuvenation and joy

Tag Archives: Hellebore

In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn

Wordless Wednesday – Spring By The Front Corner

Wordless Wednesday – Signs

In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

In A Vase On Monday – Tardy

Wordless Wednesday – Beginnings

In A Vase On Monday – Purple-Blue With Light

In A Vase On Monday – Color Burst

In A Vase On Monday – Cream To Green

Part Of A Landscape

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores and Brass

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Flowers In A Mug

Winter Garden

January Awakenings

Biding Time

In A Vase On Monday—Orchid Blush

In A Vase On Monday—Ruby Moon And Star

January Signals

Transitions

A Garden Highlight

Changes Bring Chores

End-of-Winter Beginning-of-Spring Inventory

More Hellebores

Hellebore Treasures