Happy Day.

A happy day yesterday when I discovered a few blooms in my garden. 

All of a sudden

Snowdrops are blooming in little clumps. 

And so are Hellebores.

Hellebores look so fragile.

But they push themselves right through the ice and snow. 

Who needs roses when one can have Snowdrops and Hellebores.

But then, why not have it all.

Happy blossom discovery days to you my 
dear Friends. 

Gina

Helleborus

A couple of weeks ago I dug through the frozen ground 

to lift a little Hellebore seedling.

 I must admit it didn't look like much.

But here it is. New growth, how wonderful!

In a few weeks it might even bloom.  

It did last year. 

I wonder what color my little pot of Helleborus will be this year?

In Europe one can purchase Hellebore as cut flowers and in little pots.  

I have seen them blooming en masse in the Black Forest at Christmas time.  No wonder they are called Lenten Rose. 

They are such a welcome and pretty sight at Christmas and in January 

Has anyone seen them potted up in this country?  

Have a great Superbowl Sunday my dear friends. 

I hope that YOUR team wins. 

Gina 

I'm leaving

Because it snowed again last night

Karin of LaPouyette has Hellebore blooming in her garden.

Sharon of my french country home has Snowdrops blooming in her garden.

and Georgianna of Georgianna Lane has Daffodils blooming in her garden.

 I do have Nasturtiums blooming in my greenhouse

 More snow yesterday, but our pond is beginning to unfreeze

I can wait for Spring a little longer because I also have Geraniums blooming in my greenhouse

And Martha Washingtons

Look what's growing on my Frilly Echeveria Cactus stalk.

Do you remember when I so ruthlessly decapitated my Echeveria last November?

Now I will have a dozen or more new cacti.  Would you like one?  It's yours for the asking.

I have Hellebore growing in my garden, still asleep under 2 feet of snow

The above picture was taken last May

And I have orchids blooming in my house

Between visits to my friends, and flowers blooming in my greenhouse and an occasional champagne picnic, while cross country skiing, I think that I will manage to wait for Spring to come.

Have a lovely weekend, my dear blogging Friends

Gina

Helleborus, my loyal and early bloomer.

In zone 4 what blooms in the depth of winter in my garden? Helleborus orientalis, of course.

The Lenten Rose or Christmas Rose is a member of the genus helleborus orientalis comprising of about 20 different species.

Helleborus are a herbaceous perennial flowering plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family.



You can see the seed head forming. Soon the seeds will spill out and if undisturbed, small little seedlings will appear early next Spring. They can then easily be transplanted.


If you would like to bring them into the house you must first slice the stem lengthwise, almost all the way to the top and "condition" them in cool water and a dark place for a day. A half of a toothpick, placed in the stem, near the head of the flower, will keep their heads from drooping.




The seeds have already spilled from the flower on the right. It is at this stage that you can bring them into the house and they will hold in water without special treatment.

The large green leaves of the Helleborus provide perfect greens for flower arrangements thruought the year.


Many species of the Lenten Rose are poisonous. Alexander the Great is purported to have died because of an helleborus overdose when he took it as a medication.

Gina