NB: A note for WordPress Reader users – you need to click on the title of the post again to see the full photograph. (Otherwise you see just a tiny section!)
It’s almost time to photograph the hellebores as they start to come into flower. While I’m waiting for them to be ready, I thought I’d show you a couple of flowers from previous years.
I’ve photographed the hellebore above quite a lot because it’s one of my favourites. But it’s not getting any easier. That’s because it’s a shy little flower, like most hellebores, and keeps its flowers facing earthwards. To photograph them I have to get down really close to the ground – and then get back up again!
Hellebores are lovely flowers, so getting into awkward positions to photograph them is worthwhile. There is good news though, in that there are newer varieties that have more upward-facing flowers. I’ve just treated myself to a new plant (but not photographed it yet) that has taller stems and much more upright flowers. This makes them far easier to see. (You’ll see photos of that one soon.)
For the bottom photo I made life easier for myself by taking the flower indoors to photograph. Simply placing it higher than the camera let me look into its little face and capture its portrait. 🙂
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
Hellebores have been an acquired taste in my case, taking a while for me to come round. Once I realised there’s different kinds and learned to look for the differences, then I found them interesting! Great plants for a bank planting where you can look up at them from below 🙂
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Our garden is on a slight slope so there’s an area with a retaining wall that brings the height of the ground up a couple of feet. I’ve planted two of the hellebores there and plan on planting (or moving) others there. They’ll be a lot easier to see…and photograph!
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The bottom photo is really interesting. I’ve never seen a hellebore from that angle…maybe I need to get on my hands and knees, and give it a try?
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Or do what I did and pick the flower so that you can place it somewhere a bit higher – much easier on the knees! (A good reason for a bit of indoor photography!) 🙂
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I like these shy beauties, Ann!🙂
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They are pretty flowers – a bit of joy after the grey drabness of winter!
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Have you tried using a mirror underneath them?
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I hadn’t thought of that – could be very interesting! 🙂
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Jim tried it to photograph a snowdrop.
https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2023/02/18/six-on-saturday-18-2-2023/
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Very resourceful! (And now I’m following his blog – looks interesting!)
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He is an ex nursery man and very knowledgeable.
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They are exquisite, Ann. Thank you for going to the trouble of taking their portraits. I’m glad you were able to get off the ground again. 😊 Indoor blossoms and higher stalks should make photography easier for you.
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Thank you Tanja! I’m going to see if I can move all the hellebores to an area that has a retaining wall and is raised a couple of foot. (Future-proofing, hehe!)
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Good idea!
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We are also awaiting the return or our hellebores but they will likely be a bit later than yours. We don’t have the variety that you show, just one species and I don’t know its name.
A curious thing…when I clicked the link in my email notification I got a message that the page did not exist. But when I clicked the name of your blog there it was. More WP oddity.
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We have a couple of hellebores already open and another couple still just in bud. The flowers last for quite a long time, so should be with us for a few weeks. The oddity with the notification happened because I tried to schedule for early on Sunday but that didn’t work and it went live immediately. So I took the post back into edit mode, ‘de-lived’ it and scheduled it for the usual time. Meanwhile WP had quickly notified subscribers – eek!
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