Celebrating gardens, photography and a creative life
If I was asked for one word to describe the character of hellebores, it would be demure. That shows the dangers of generalising. These beautifully spotted, double blooms look like something out of musical theatre.
I can’t help wondering what they are whispering about. Fear of slugs? The shipping forecast? The best hairdresser in the county – should that be petaldresser?
For those hoping for something a bit more botanical, these are Helleborus x hybridus (Ashwood Garden Hybrids).
Every now and again, we gardeners spot a plant we really want. Not having the space or the conditions it deserves doesn’t always help reduce the cravings, but when we’re lucky enough to have the perfect spot, we’re almost powerless to resist.
If the plant is a mass propagated, named cultivar (and we know the variety name and can find a supplier) there’s something we can do about it, when it’s not, it’s more tricky. I’ve recently been bewitched by a hellebore I saw in woodland at the Ness Botanic Garden that I fear falls into the latter category. Continue reading “Plantlust”
I called in at Gresgarth Hall last Sunday for snowdrop day. As expected, the snowdrops were looking fine, but what ought to have been a surprise is that so many hellebores were in full flower too. Hellebore day isn’t scheduled for another month, so it’s perhaps as well that their flowers are so long lasting.
Far from being surprised, I’d been eagerly anticipating the hellebores. After all, I’d have had to have been keeping my head in a bucket not to realise this season is a strange one. Since the start of 2016, gardeners the length and breadth of the country have been marveling out loud on social media at the range of flowers brought out early by the unseasonably warm weather we’ve had this winter. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Challenge: Seasons”
I promised to share more pictures from my most recent visit to Gresgarth Hall – here they are. I’ve tried to give you a quick private tour of this lovely winter garden.
It’s not often I’ve had the chance to see so many mature hellebores flowering. I wanted to try to capture a different impression of these generous plants than a picture of just one single flower can convey.
I couldn’t resist sharing a sneak peak from my most recent visit to one of my favourite gardens, Gresgarth Hall in Caton, Lancashire for their Hellebore Open Day.
I always like to know when people who really live and breathe the garden think is the best time to visit. Continue reading “Hellebore Day 2015 at Gresgarth Hall”
If you follow my blog, you’ll know of my weakness for hellebores. You may even remember that Ashwood Nurseries of Kingswinford is one of my favourite places in the gardening world. I’ve already teased you with a few pictures from my last trip, but I’ve much more to share. Continue reading “Ashwood Nurseries: Britain’s Best Kept Gardening Secret”
Susan Rushton 