The first shot is a variation on a theme. You may remember the purple hellebore bowing its head in homage to snowdrops towards the end of my recent post about snowdrops. This flower was nearby. I bent down, half automatically, and turned the flower up to take a look inside. The darker spotting on a rich, purple background created an effect somewhere between velvet and silk. Very regal. It may be just my imagination, but in this shot, it’s the snowdrops that seem to be paying homage, like fans at a concert.
The second is quite a contrast, but equally elegant – a classic, creamy-white double hellebore. I like the ruffled effect created by the petals and the pattern of raspberry coloured spots in the centre. The odd wayward speckle is the cherry on the cake.
If you know of places where interesting collections of hellebores can be seen growing in UK gardens, please let me know. I’d love to add them to my to-visit list.
Susan Rushton 
Those are both excellent for opposite reasons. I like white of course, and this one rox. However, the purple is so purply purplish purple. The close up looks like clematis. Both look quite luxuriant.
It does have a look of a clematis.
Another good post on these, Susan
Thanks, Derrick.
Those are both beautiful. The stamens remind me of dancers on stage in a circle wearing tall feather headdresses.
You can see different things in them, depending on where you look. Now you’ve made me look again, part of the bottom one reminds me of those people who wave the planes into their gate. I am sure there is an emoji for the kind of face realising that just gave me!
Beautiful 🙂
Thanks, Eunice.
Doesn’t it just take your breath away when you look closely? What marvels! And then to be able to stand back and see how the flowers acknowledge each other — well, therein lies the nature of the gardener and the spirit of the poet, yes? These are wonderful.
It’s well worth the wear and tear on the knees!
Stunning
Thank you!
Two very beautiful hellebores – and you have photographed them exquisitely!
I’m glad you liked them.
Beautiful photos beautifully photographed. Wonderful details captured.
A purist would say their heads should be nodding, but it’s nice to see inside, especially as their outsides only give a hint of the inside. Each time you lift a hellebore flower up, it’s a surprise.
Beautiful!! 😊
Thank you!
Both beauties! I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Yes, the snowdrops are definitely paying homage. 😉
I’m glad you think so too!
Nice job with the second flower capturing the details in the petals and not blowing the highlights. Very difficult with an all white subject.
It was an overcast day, which helps a lot.
I love all hellebores, these two are beauties.
I do too. Their flowers have such a long period of interest. It amazes me how many months some of them seem to last.
Hellebores are great value, they start in January and go on right through March. I love them.