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Flowering from winter days right into mid-spring, hellebores are a lovely companion as I look for the signs of the re-emergence and renewal of life in the garden. For me, hellebores make the time of waiting for spring brighter and happier. Their flowers are with us from the coldest time of the year. They last through that subtle shift away from winter, accompanying us until the warmth and longer daylight of spring has created a rush of fresh growth and bright, new colours.
On a recent visit to Fullers Mill Garden, I took the opportunity to photograph some of their many hellebores. To do so, I had to find flowers that were slightly upturned rather than facing downward. Then I had to wait for the breeze to die away…so there was a fair bit of patience and sheer luck involved! (You see the results here.)
In my own garden, I have planted several newer cultivars. These have more upward-facing flowers than the older hellebores. Apart from making them more visible, this makes them much easier to photograph. (And I can’t resist photographing them, so they’re also likely to make an appearance on this blog soon.)
Winter is, thankfully, on its way out. Spring is slowly taking over and we have had a few days of sunshine at last. After such a wet couple of months, the gradual change to warmer weather is more than welcome. I’m glad to have had the company of hellebores throughout this time.
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
Happy impending spring.
I see a resemblance to flowers in the genus Ranunculus, which are in the same botanical family.
Depending on what’s in the background, a downward-facing flower may offer the photographer a chance to get low and aim upward to isolate the flower against the sky or clouds.
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Hehe, Steve, the problem might be getting back up again afterwards! (And it might cause concern for other visitors to see a photographer flat on their back in a flower bed…:) )
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Every so often over the years people have stopped to see if the old guy lying on the ground (i.e. me) is all right. Once someone even called emergency medical services, and another time the police.
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Yikes! It’s one thing to have someone ask if you are alright, but it gets a bit too complicated when they call the emergency services. Think I’d better keep lying on the ground for my own garden…😆
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They are very good for bridging the period between Christmas and the start of spring. So many lovely colours too.
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It feels good to see some colour in the garden in that period, Jude, otherwise it would feel rather bleak out there. I like having something to photograph in winter too, especially when I’m looking for something for this blog. 🙂
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🤩💖🤩💖🤩🙌🏼
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Thank you! 🙂
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I laughed at the exchange between you and Steve about the advantages (and disadvantages) of a ground-level perspective. I’ve met some very nice game wardens, good ol’ boys in pickups, county sheriffs, and park rangers after taking to the ground. It’s somehow comforting to know I live in a place where the sight of an old woman on the ground still gives pause!
That said, I can appreciate a nice upward facing flower, and these are gorgeous. The green and mauve combination in the petals is so pretty, and unusual as well. Somehow I missed realizing that they’re an early bloomer; it would be great to have them around to decorate winter’s end.
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Hehe, I’m glad you met some nice folk – it’s a very different way of getting to know people! I’d be reassured by knowing that I could get a hand to get back on my feet if necessary! (Though I think lying flat in someone else’s flower-bed might not make a good impression…) 😂
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