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!)
Spring arrived here this week. Every year I feel that there is a day when winter clothing suddenly feels much too much and the sun has real warmth to it. The cats have deserted their bed by a warm radiator and taken over the conservatory chairs again. The birds are busy, busy and so are a few early bees. Best of all, things are growing again.
Nevertheless, it’s a slow process for colour to start reappearing in the garden. Our daffodils have opened at last, and there’s a scattering of blue and white Anemone blanda and some yellow primroses. Amongst these spring flowers, the hellebores are still holding their own. They flower for weeks, bridging the period spanning late winter and early spring with their glorious blooms.
This year the hellebores have done well. They’ve become much more sturdy plants, with many more flowers than I’ve seen on them before. Both photographs here are of ‘Rosali’ from the HGC ‘Ice N’ Roses’ series, which I planted last year. I hope that this newer hellebore will turn out to be as robust and resilient as other older varieties are said to be…time will tell!
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
I like the perspective and composition in your top photograph.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Steve! The hellebores were a bit awkward to get at to photograph because of the semi-destruction of the low wall beside them. (Due to making room for the heat pump.) Hopefully it will be easier next year! 🙂
LikeLike
Despite never having seen a hellebore, I’m becoming rather fond of them through your photos. These are lovely. I hope they do perform well for you in the future. From what you say, it sounds as though they’re establishing well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re rather exotic-looking star plants at this time of year and I’d love to be able to grow more of them because they are so good to photograph.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This gorgeous flower is certainly off to a good start! Happy spring to you☀️!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope you have a great spring too… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely colour. Most of mine have flowered well this year. They certainly do fill a gap in the seasons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think mine may have liked the extra bit of rain. It’s been quite surprise to see how much they’ve increased their flower numbers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful colours and details on the flowers, Ann!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are great for photography, thanks Indira!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m joining the chorus of hellebore admirers, Ann. The blossoms are glorious and it’s easy to see why they help brighten the last stretch of winter when most of us are yearning for spring. I’m glad you are enjoying the arrival of springtime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The hellebores are something to look forward to at a time when there isn’t much colour in the garden. They provide some pleasure while I’m out getting late winter/early spring jobs done. And spring is making itself felt at last – a happy time of year! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favorite time of year! 🌷
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad your hellebores are doing well. I always think of them as sturdy plants anyway. Mine are the only things flowering here. My daffodils all came up blind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I reckon they must be pretty robust, Jill, when you think of all they have to put up with in winter/early spring! It’s a shame about your daffodils being blind, very disappointing. The RHS has an info page here with suggestions that might get them flowering again: https://www.rhs.org.uk/problems/daffodil-blindness I hope something works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for this, Ann. Had a quick squint and think maybe they could have got waterlogged during the winter, it’s been awfully wet here. I don’t tie the foliage in a knot after flowering, and they don’t get too dry, so it’s not that.
LikeLiked by 1 person