My First Hellebore Bloom

Now that the trees in the backyard are finally getting larger and with the addition of a shed, we're finally getting/creating a little shade! I'm envisioning a part of the back bed being a woodland area with beautiful Hostas, Lily of the Valley, Brunnera and the Hellebore. It was love at first site with the Hellebore. Once I started to investigate this plant and found out that it's evergreen as well, it was a must for the garden.

So, last Fall, I bought my first two Hellebore's "Pink Parachutes" and the woman wished me good luck (it was very late in the season and our first snow fall had occurred). I thanked her and drove home on cloud nine because, I got these two large plants for a very good price - $8.50! Every Hellebore I've seen in a catalog has been at least $16 for a much smaller plant. So, it's now early March and I have my first Hellebore bloom and the addiction has begun - I need more. It will be the first thing I look for at the garden nursery this year. I hope you enjoy my first bloom.

Crocus Are Out!

My bulbs are bursting through the top layer of the earth in anticipation of Spring, and I'm so excited! As you recall, I spent the fall planting some ~300 bulbs and I'm hoping the show isn't a complete flop. I did pay attention to color and heights and bloom times...so I'm hoping my combinations work together - crossing my fingers. Time will tell I guess, but I'm getting the camera ready!

The crocus are out and it makes me smile every time I take the front door walkway. Seeing them drinking up the sun just makes me want to stop and slow down and take an extra look around the garden. Mother Nature's way of telling me to stop and smell the flowers. After a couple of hectic weeks at work, it does me good.

The pictures below were taken a couple of weeks ago. There are more purple crocus now, will take more pictures and upload. Enjoy my first signs of Sping!



Hyacinth



tulips