Hellebores in December and a new purchase

As you may know, I do like hellebores. I have some in the border, but most are in pots.  I didn't mean to start a collection, but I might have done so.  They are perennial, easy care and flower during winter and early spring. The flowers stay on until later in the spring, so they are really good value plants.   These are all in pots and all bloom earlier than the ones I have in the border.    Above is Winter Princess Victoria, with emerging leaves and flower buds.

This is one of the Ice and Roses series, much further ahead than any of the others, which is one of its selling points, I think. 

One of the Credale series, (either single white or double pink picotee) just tentatively showing new leaves and the tips of other leaves or possibly buds poking through the soil.

Reliable Eric Smithii Winter Sunshine, with lots of buds.  This one probably needs repotting now.

Here is my latest addition - Winter Ballet Lulu.  This series has larger flowers and the plants themselves are about 45 cm once fully grown.  In pots, they all remain a little smaller.  These flower earlier than many of the others and apparently stay flowering for a longer period.  I am in good company with my purchase as on Gardeners World last Friday evening, Adam Frost was planting some of the Winter Ballet series, but the white ones, in his garden. 

The flowers are big, bold and beautiful.  I look forward to seeing them through the Winter and into Spring.  

Welcome Hellebores

I love seeing the hellebores starting to flower. While Winter is not over, they are always a promise of Spring.  These are all grown in pots and are ahead of the hellebores in the border.  Above is the rich plum/pink of Hello Ruby.

The deep colour of the petals contrasts beautifully with the green/lemon stamens.

Hellebore Eric Smithii Winter Sunshine is proving itself to be a reliable and floriferous addition to the garden. 

The pink buds open to a white/pink flower, with a touch of green.

This is Hello White Pearl which is again a reliable performer. The pink speckling is so pretty - it almost looks like a lily flower.

There are more flowers to come.

Hellebore Princess Victoria is on the way - her flowers are a deep purply/red.

This is Hellebore Harvington Pink.  It is a really pretty pink but has seemed a little shy, not flowering last year.  There are three flowers on that stem, so I shall enjoy watching them grow.

My newly planted (in December) grape hyacinths are starting to grow too so I am watching them (with some excitement!).  They should have a pale blue flower.  I do like this time of year with the promise of lovely things to come.

Hello nearly Spring

It is so nearly Spring proper - it is just round the corner.  It is comforting that it happens without any interference from man.  The hellebores in the border are now in flower - they are a little later than the potted ones but I love to see them nonetheless.  Above is Harvington Picotee.

Harvington Pink Speckled.

Another Harvington Picotee - was this an original plant or is it a seedling? 

Harvington White Speckled.

The reliable Cardamine Quinquefolia, which I love.  I have been warned it can become invasive and it is certainly spreading but so far, not a nuisance.  If it outgrows the space or makes a bid for garden domination, we will be having words!

Camellia St Ewe flowering at the shady bottom of the garden.  It certainly provides a splash of colour!

A little crocus, (sieberi tricolor) opening up to greet the sun. I have planted these all around - in the borders (where I could find a space) and in various pots.  They are such cheerful little flowers and good for the early bees.

Finally, another hellebore, in a pot, called Princess Victoria.  This one is the darkest I have and has taken quite a while to get into flower.  I love the dusky, velvety look to the flower.  

I have just added two more salvias to the garden - Microphylla Cerro Potosi, which has a bright pink flower.  They are just starting to put out leaves, but I am looking forward to seeing them in flower.

Nearly Spring, but not quite.  It is an exciting time of year.

December in the garden

So far, December has been pretty wet, mild and dull, although we have had a few sunny days.  One of these was yesterday, so I headed into the garden with my camera.  Above is a new winter flowering hellebore called Winter Princess 'Victoria'.   I found her at B&Q - a DIY store - and was intrigued that the label said she would flower through December.  I have several hellebores in the garden, but these are all late Winter/early Spring flowerers.  I can report that she has been in flower since we bought her, in November, I think.

This nemesia 'Confetti' is also still going and this was one of the cuttings I took in the summer, which were my first ever successful cuttings.  

Irises in pots and snowdrops are starting to grow.

Camellia buds are plumping up.

A self-seeded primula is flowering on the patio.  I haven't had any coloured primulas for years so am not sure where this one has come from.  Perhaps it has just been waiting for the right time.

One of my autumn fruiting raspberries is still fruiting too and I ate a raspberry as I wandered round the garden. It still tasted fine.

My small winter flowering jasmine is flowering, but that is more to be expected at this time of year.  It is still a young plant, but is brightening up this part of the border.

Camellia Yoimachi has flowered once this winter, but there are more buds.

This is hydrangeas 'The Bride' which has one flower still looking good.

Snowdrops in a tub.

Camassia starting to grow - I think this is much too early, but they have been enjoying the rain.

Snowdrops in the border.

Another hydrangea, giving really good value for money is Coco - lovely white flowers in summer and then a range of colours as the flowers fade.

More Coco...

...and again.

Winter flowering honeysuckle is in flower and on a sunny day, the scent is lily of the valley.  Again, this is flowering quite early for me - it is usually in January or February.

Small, insignificant flowers, but the scent is wonderful!

To finish, here is a flower from the new hellebore - Victoria.  She is giving me a lot of pleasure, as are all the featured plants.