How come every winter I decide I can squeeze one more Hellebore in? Probably because there's barely anything blooming right now. I found this Helleborus Niger 'Jacob' and thought it would brighten up a spot in the garden. Where, I don't know, but I'll find a good spot that I can see from inside the house.
While carrying 'Jacob' around I found a clearance table at the nursery. Everything was at least 50% off! There were lots of really good plants on it too, but I was good and just found a few.
After seeing the Hellebores in the nursery I decided to see what the Hellebores in my garden were doing. These are Lenten Rose type Hellebores and they bloom toward the end of February whereas the H. Nigers also called "Christmas Rose" are blooming right around now.
A self seeded Red Valerian in my backyard blooming now which seems very late, but I'll take that color anyday!
Violas seem to love this half wine barrel. I think they are protected enough that the cold temperatures don't seem to bother them. I'm also very happy to see all those buds on the Pieris. I find myself checking for buds on other plants like Camellias and Sarcococcas. Just seeing those buds helps me through the cold weather because I know there is the promise of flowers to come.
Daphne 'Summer Ice' will bloom up until about January and then take a month or two off before it's back in bloom again. This is an evergreen shrub and those flowers smell so good!
Isn't the new growth on Abelia pretty? It didn't bloom long this year but the pink here is almost as good. It's mostly an evergreen shrub unless we get many days really cold weather, and then it will lose most of its leaves.
Our backyard gets the most sun during the winter and spring and so I love to go and stand on the deck to soak up the sun when it's out. I've been adding more and more container plantings to this area. The red flowers are Cyclamen and Pansies There are a few more containers that aren't seen in this picture that are planted with tulip bulbs. I've seen signs of digging, but so far no bulbs are gone. I think the squirrels still prefer the apples that are left on the tree.
We had a beautiful sunrise this morning with lots of oranges in it, tonight's sunset is just as pretty. As nice as it is I do look forward to when the sunset is later than 4:20 pm!
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.
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ReplyDeleteI miss all my pretties so much. Yours are gorgeous. Spring is just around the corner, tho.
:)
Merry Christmas
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon
Catherine, your newly acquired Helleborus Niger 'Jacob' is so pretty, I just love it! I can see why you don't get enough of the Helleborus, at this time of the year each and any flower is so precious. I also think the barrel with the blue violas looks awesome. I completely understand that you are longing for the days to become longer again, I feel pretty much the same. Take care!
ReplyDeleteChristina
You are so lucky to still have flowers! I have buds on my Sarcococca, but I'm thinking maybe I need to get some Daphne and some Abelia to tide me through the winter. Yours are so pretty. My garden is nothing but brown mush right now. My Hellebores must all be the Lenten type too, mine all look like little nubs just barely sticking up out of the ground, like yours. I didn't think anywhere would still have perennials on sale! You restrained yourself very well. I wish it would get just a little bit warmer, with all this sun we've been having.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous ~ zone 3 here ... and spring is soooooooo far away for me. Thanks for sharing your garden with us less fortunate to have such a long growing season:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures...I am always amazed by all the colors!
ReplyDeleteHellebores and daphne seem to me like God's down payment on Spring :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat buy on the hellebore! Nothing gets my gardener juices flowing faster than a great nursery sale. And your daphne is beautiful. I noticed tiny buds on my daphne today, and all of a sudden I was looking for signs of spring! I was horrified to find some, with hydrangeas putting out new leaves. I want to tell them to go back in, we haven't had winter yet!
ReplyDeleteThink you need an Edgeworthia to go along with your Daphne. What a treat to have some goodies at the garden center.
ReplyDeleteWhat flowers? That is beyond my comprehension. I have 2 feet of snow. Please enjoy. You are lucky.
ReplyDeleteWe are still waiting for winter to come here.it usually starts in January and ends at the end of March. I love 50%boff tables some people think the plants are dying not dormant.
ReplyDeleteI like the Hellebore. I read about them this last weekend in the fine gardening magazine I get. I almost got some at the nursery this last weekend, but I have done that so many times and got home not knowing where to put them!? So I waited. I bought a daphne about 6" tall two years ago at the master gardeners sale near here. It doesn't look at all like yours, but maybe in a few more years. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteYes, that`s right, gardening is always on my mind too! But now all is frozen down, and it`s nearly Christmas. My Helleborus had buds, but is now covered with snow! I long for the spring ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd you still have blooming in your garden, lovely!
There's always room to sneak in another hellebore in Catherine especially one as handsome as 'Jacob'. Is that a little heuchera peeking out of the box too? :)
ReplyDeleteI am waiting for more light...no flowers here...yours are lovely!!
ReplyDeleteYou have so many flowers blooming in spite of the cold! I'm sure Jacob will do very well in your garden. The vanilla flower doesn't have any smell- a pity.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to go outside, see your breath in the cold air, and spot a few blooms hanging in there. You have quite a few to see too. Tomorrow, it will be 51 degrees here, and it is any wonder why the flowers are not sure what to do. Most of mine are in deep sleep now though.
ReplyDeleteIt is so great to see some blooms this time of year.
ReplyDeleteEileen
nice post! thanks for sharing...blessings soraya
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to turn down a few plants when those half off sales start.I tell myself no all the time but even I do not pay attention to myself. LOL!Oh well.
ReplyDeleteYour Daphne is so pretty Catherine. It is wonderful to see blooms this time of the year.Your Peach Melba Heuchera is going to be such a pretty addition to the garden. Have a wonderful week.
O, how I recognize myself in your story. I love the heleborus. I have one with flowers almost black colored. Not easy to photograph because her flowers are hanging.
ReplyDeleteI am longing to meet spring spring. The weather is not as sunny as yours.
Stormwinds and lots of rain. I don't like it.
Have a nice evening
Marijke
That is a fine looking Hellebore! Of course you needed one that was blooming right now! I'm very interested in the Daphne, looks like a very pretty blooming shrub with close to year round interest. The beauty of living in the PNW is that our gardens are never fully asleep :)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, How sweet that you've got a little Jupiter's Beard blooming. I need to go out and pick some of my Abelia bracts although I'm not sure that mine look as nice as yours. I sure hope it warms up soon. Brrr!
ReplyDeleteOh, please don't wish your short days away just yet! We are still waiting to enjoy our summer which is dragging its heels this year. We had such an unseasonably cold day yesterday that I had to did out my warm clothes!
ReplyDeleteI must add more more more hellebores to my garden! You did well at the nursery. I have no self control. Your garden, as always, looks beautiful. I love cyclamen, too.
ReplyDeleteIf we could pick up our family and move, it would be in a warmer zone like yours. I'm leaning toward North Carolina, though. Still, I know we are in this house to stay.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning some winter sowing too.
ReplyDeleteI hope yours all sprout!
Merry Christmas.