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Monday, February 22, 2010

Julia's Hellebores

Here are some of the hellebores blooming at Julia's garden right now. I have been building a big deck and screened in porch all winter. Just a bonus to be there when these are blooming. These photos are of about 1/3 of the hellebores she has the others have not came out yet. She has promised me a few babies of these plants so I'm pretty excited.

One thing I wanted to bring up. Several people have mentioned that hellebores can sulk a year or so after transplanting them. This time last year we did not have any hellebores in this garden. I bought 3 expensive one gallon plants at the local nursery and they are getting ready to bloom. The other 10-12 plants we have were given to us and dug up  from two different gardens, all so far show signs of blooms in the future. Half out dug up plants were planted in the summer the other half were planted in the fall.
This one we dug a footer right up to it and it was partially covered with dirt for a short time, no harm done. This plant is almost 3 foot around. Likely my favorite.
Look at those pointy petals, oh my!
Very red, lots of blooms on this one!
This one was a sport I think all the other flowers around it were red. She says many of her hellebores are much redder than normal.
Many of these in one big cluster. We are planning in visiting Pine Knot Farms the local hellebore growers on March 06th during their Hellebore Festival 2010. Anyone wanting to join us in southern Virginia during the open house please let us know. We were planning on going on February 27th but figured since we have had so much unusual cold weather this year.

Testing out the macro capabilities of Meg's new camera (Coolpix S70). This is a daphne close up from the plant next to her front door. Just a few blooms so far so not aroma yet. This photo was taken from 5mm at 28mm 5mm set to 1/98 sec, f/3.9 at ISO 400.

Here is the porch I'm building there. The deck is 14 x 30 and the porch is 14 x 20. I built a shed under it as well. As you can see we still need a beaded board ceiling that will be painted haut blue and screen. The electrician was supposed to start today and the rest of the week will be too cold to paint the ceiling boards before installing them.

23 comments:

  1. I just love hellebores. I am planning on attending the Hellebore Fest too but not sure which day.

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  2. Michelle,

    Perhaps if we did meet up we could trade some hellebore babies?

    Just in from the garden, the rain has stopped and some sticks got picked up.

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  3. Randy, I envy your Hellebores. Happy to hear that they will bloom the first year after transplanting. We will have lots of shade in our new place and I am excited to have some Hellebores, in addition to some other shade lovers I have been coveting!

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  4. Ooh, so pretty! I haven't seen a helleborus yet that I didn't like.

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  5. I like hellebores because their the flowers display various shades of the same colour. ~bangchik

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  6. Randy, Your hellebores are beautiful... as is the Deck you're building!! What a sweet way to be able to enjoy your pond. :-)

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  7. Those Hellebore flowers look lovely!

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  8. Hellebores are such a great flower, aren't they? Those are lovely! I really need to add some more.

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  9. a plant that has been on my list, but still hasn't made it to my garden... the hellebores are lovely!

    Cameron

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  10. Lucky you to get to work next to such lovely plants. And lucky Julia to have such a kicking deck. Wow! Thanks so much for stopping by my site - I definitely will be buying hellebores, whether or not I have to replace all my other shrubs. Take care, Kelly

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  11. Hi,
    Never seen a hellebores before - wonder if it is from a rose species or something.
    They are truly lovely to look at.
    I guess it must be a cold climate plant.

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  12. Those hellebores are so endearing, even if i haven't seen them. Because of blogging i learn to love snowdrops, hellebores, crocus, etc. If i will live in temperate climates i will surely have them too. The house looks so cosy and cute. If i live there i will be put hanging plants along the ledges.

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  13. Anonymous7:43 AM

    Dear Randy, Thank you for leaving a comment on my site which has enabled me to find you.

    The hellebores are indeed wonderful and are amongst my favourite spring flowers. I love the pink and plum toned ones which you picture but I also treasure my near black ones which, although they do not clump up so quickly, look very sophisticated.

    The building on the back of your house looks to be a very challenging project. I wish you well with it and trust that it will be completed without mishap.

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  14. Beautiful blooms and so many different ones to boot! We are thinking of solving our backyard soggy conditions with adding a boardwalk and deck type patio. Come on down and help us out! lol...

    My vote goes for digging up those Hellebores before you sell the house. The butterflies, well, you know I love seeing those beauties. You make me want to add more butterfly bushes in my butterfly island!

    Oh and a great Valentines Day Gift...

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  15. I love hellebores, you've got quite the variety. Lovely pictures as always.

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  17. Your hellebores are just lovely. I love the subtle shades of pink. Your porch is beautiful. I bet you cannot wait to have it finished :^)

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  18. They are all really pretty, but I think I like that first one the best too.
    The deck you're building looks really nice, it looks like they must have a view of something nice they'll be able to enjoy from the new deck.

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  19. Awesome awesome deck! The hellebores are splendid too but I want that deck! A great spot to commune with nature.

    I have had experience with hellebores blooming and settling in when first planted from purchased plants, but when you move seedlings they will not bloom for quite some time. The ones I moved last year are only about 2" tall and show no signs of blooming. I think it takes a few years. This may be what you've heard. You'll see when your friend gives you some hellebores. Be patient.

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  20. We had more snow after I took photos of the few hellebore buds I found. The others are under leaves in the front, and in other spots in the yard, where I haven't checked yet. Now, we're having highs above freezing, so the snow should be melted enough to check again.

    Your hellebores are so beautiful! They must really like the spots where you have them. Your deck/porch looks very roomy and a great place to enjoy the outdoors. I wish we were handy like you.

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  21. Wonderful Hellebores Randy! Mine are buried under a few feet of snow. Looks to be a handsome deck! You are so clever in many ways.

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  22. I really love hellebores as well... I have posted pictures of some of mine on my blog... they are just becoming more popular here in Wisconsin, but not common. LC

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  23. Breathtaking flower photos! My hellebores tend to look a bit ratty.

    Kudos on the magnificent deck.

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