Monday, February 27, 2012

Hot Flash .. One Heavenly Hellebore

Helleborus x sternii  'Hot Flash' .. photographed when the plant first bloomed in Alice's Garden.
Winter-blooming Hellebores are harbingers of spring days that are soon follow in my Northern California sanctuary - a secret garden hidden from the street. Behind the front patio's blue wall, you must walk through the house and out the french doors at the rear before the garden is revealed.
This fancy pants variety, Helleborus 'Hot Flash' is reaching full bloom with March 1st just around the corner. Growing in a prime position in the garden's central bed, the plant would likely be even more robust if the winter rains weren't proving to be practically nonexistent this year. In their place, we've enjoyed a long period of unseasonably warm weather. Broadcasters are predicting rain to return this week. My garden really needs the moisture, so let's cross our fingers....

12 comments:

  1. That hellebore is breathtakingly beautiful. I love the foliage, and the colors of both the flower and foliage together.

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    1. Thanks, spurge!
      She's the rarest variety currently strutting her stuff among the commoners;D

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  2. Lovely hellebore but apparently doesn't grow on the east coast---all mine died. Glad you can have it there.

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    1. Hi Carolyn
      I can only imagine the beautiful hellebores that you're able to grow. I've learned that so many of my tried and true perennials from the Chicago garden resent being planted in the Bay Area!

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  3. That is indeed heavenly, Alice! Such a joy to see Hellebores blooming in the northern hemisphere!

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    1. PP
      At this time of year, they are clearly a highlight, though the flowering quince is starting to strut its stuff, I'm happy to repport!

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  4. I love hellebore...mine are blooming as well. I want to add more of them because they are such a joy at this time of year.

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  5. Hi SB
    All my other varieties self sow, multiplying at a good rate. This fancy pants, Hot Flash, shows no sign of yet of producing seedlings. Do yours self-sow?

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  6. Thank you for visiting my blog and now I am also able to visit you here and see all the lovely plants and flowers. I love the pink toned Hellebore above.
    My gardening these days is done on my balcony... but that can be fun too and no backache from all that bending! I love your header photograph: vineyards and lavender and mountains, what a lovely place to be!

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  7. the foliage is just as attractive as the flower.

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