I looked out of my downstairs window yesterday and thought I saw a bloom but didn't have time to go in the garden to look. Rushed out today when I got home and then hurried right back inside and got my camera.
Hellebore is blooming. Can spring be around the corner?
This is the Hellebore Immanence Series "Double Melody" that I got and planted last fall.
I love hellebores. Even after getting a little tattered from the snow and ice there’s this pretty bloom and fresh green growth.
That is pretty. I never tried to grow one, have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing. Hope spring gets here soon, we have winter storm warning up for tomarrow, Nuts!!!!
Oh thanks, Miata. Very pretty, indeed! I guess that I had better start keeping an eye on mine, too.
Beautiful. I've never had one.
I am seeing sprouts from most of my daylily clumps now. well the sunny place ones, my warm south facing bed.
Sally , I saw some sprouts on my daylilies too, at least the ones that are not still under the snow. I keep looking for my new spring bulbs I planted in the fall to pop up but nothing yet.
Woohooo! Miata, that bloom is Gorgeous! I'm looking forward to blooms from our little seedlings... maybe next year? :-)
Hellebores are among my favorites, probably because they bloom so early and the blooms last a relatively long time. I love any sign that spring is coming. I found several buds on mine yesterday but none open yet. Even some of the liners from the coop last year are budding. Hopefully the flowers will open by next weekend. I also ordered 3 more expensive hellebores from another nursery and the plugs are looking better. I think only one of the three is going to bloom this year -- one seems to be mia . . I'm just so ready for spring. I do have a couple of early yellow crocus in bloom, lots of daffodils up a couple of inches and hyacinths popping up. Even a couple of tulips are peeking out -- hope they don't get nipped.
I love Hellebores! Yours is gorgeous!! Beautiful color and form!
I need to go out in my garden and see if my Hellebores are in bloom. Thanks for the reminder.
I've even tried growing them from seed. It takes a lot of patience, as it takes two seasons before they even germinate. I'm still waiting.....
There's a thread on Daves Garden Forum trying to get a forum for hellebores started. If anyones interested in supporting it here's the link. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/817015/ I personally think it's worthy of one.
Thanks nutmegnana
This message was edited Feb 26, 2008 1:53 PM
Those are very nice---I've considered those for my garden. They're supposed to be easy and spread, right? Good for shade. I knew they were the first to bloom in Spring but I thought they bloomed a little ahead of crocus.
Foxnfirefly: Hellebores need moist shade and soil that drains well. Yes, they bloom ahead of Crocuses. In fact, they will bloom for most of the Winter into early Spring. I've had some that were sheltered under bushes on the north side of the house that bloomed until early Summer.
Most years my hellebores bloom before anything else. They seem to be slow this year -- buds took longer to come. I'm wondering if the drought had anything to do with it? They do need to be in at least partial shade. I have some that get a few hours of afternoon sun and those are the ones that are full of buds. My crocus that are blooming are in a very warm, sunny but protected spot and have been there for a couple of years so maybe that is why they are up so soon. It seems a little early to me for crocus to bloom.
Bought some very expensive hellebores from Park's (before I know about DG!!!) Half of them have died, the rest are not blooming yet. We keep checking. How long before they bloom?
Pamspace:
Why did half of your Hellebores die? Where do you have them planted and what is their soil like?
It can take several years before your Hellebore plants will bloom. It usually happens sometime between the 3rd & 4th year. That's another reason why Hellebores are so expensive! Be patient and eventually they will reward you.
I checked on my plants today. My large hellebore is in bud and I'd guesstimate that it will be in bloom by the weekend. The others aren't even thinking about blooming, but then they haven't been in the ground a year yet. Will try to snap photos when the time comes.
Shirley,
They are planted in a sheltered northfacing area with a windbreak (deadfall, etc) about 20 feet away to the north. The soil has been amended multiple times and all else there is doing well. The leaves on some have turned dark brown, then they have laid down and died.
Several years, huh!!!! (and Parks said by next year, 2 springs ago!) Well, wait we will! Thanks for your replies. Pam
I have 2 Hellebores on either side of my Birdbath. Very protected spot. They are several years old--the whitish/greenish blooming ones. I haven't really looked as they have a lot of leaves around them. I did see blooms on one walking around the other day. Not much growth yet. Have to check!
And, just as a reminder to those new to this plant--you can now cut away all the old leaves from last year. They are done. Makes it look cleaner and better too. The plant will grow all new ones.
I got one last year from someone in a plant swap. It is supposed to be a hot pink--maybe like yours, Bobbie? It hasn't grown much yet--is also buried under some leaves. I have been wanting to go out and start cleaning and raking--but not in this weather!
I tell you! The birds and the squirrels sure know it is Spring! Oh, my gosh! All the chasing around going on! The birds are checking out their old nesting holes in my Kwanzan Cherry Tree on the curb. These trees are so old and sickly--all the branches and stems are hollow. That's where the birds all nest--and they come back every year too.
OK! That was a bit off topic--but then, that's how my mind goes too....
Gita
Thanks for the pruning tip, Gita. I didn't notice any old leaves on my big plant -- what should I be looking for? These all appeared to be big and green and healthy, but I know that I did not prune it last season -- what's that all about?
Yes, I'd say that Spring has sprung here. The Robins are back in force, my turf is greening up well and the squirrels have been doing a fine job at aerating it for me.
BTW, my hellebore still hasn't bloomed, but it's got big fat pink buds on it that look like they could pop any second. My smaller plants aren't doing much of anything yet though.
Wrigtie
I looked at your first picture again. The leaf to the front seems to be a new one, but I can make out some brown tips and yellowing spots in some of the other leaves. They MAY look green and healthy, but compare them a bit later to the ones growing this year.
Basically, any of the leaves there that have been there since last year would normally get cut off. You can wait a bit longer if you want and see if there is a good crop of new leaves growing. You will be able to tell the difference.
Perhaps different cultivars act differently. I know I chop the old leaves off pretty much when all the blooms are up. I think most of the new leaves come soon after the plant is in full bloom
Anyone--please correct me if I am wrong. Wrightie--just wait a while and see what others have to say.
Gita
Whoops, those aren't my pictures, Gita, they're Miata's.
I think I'm too chicken to prune now because my plant looks good to me. I'd rather wait until I see newer leaves.
I'm with you, Wrightie! I've got some dormant little Adenium seedlings with a few sad half-yellow leaves... but until I see new growth, I'm not nipping off the old ones!
Folks,
I just learned to use post pictures on the computer. I will try this week to take some pics of my brown hellebores and let you guys diagnose the problem (s). Thanks, Pam
ps don't hold your breath, I am still new at this.!
Pam, we love pictures, bring them on!
Wow. That looks like a tough act to follow, but here's a summerkid co-op Helleborus niger bloom from today. Believe it or not, it flowered last August, too.
Ohhh! That's pretty, claypa. The lighting really makes it stand out.
ladyg- that little girls pose is classic !
yeah claypa- how'd you do that?
That's beautiful Claypa. I still have to find one of those. I was supposed to get two from Wayside / Parks on a fall clearance but they tried to subsitute a variety that I already had. I caught it when checking up on the order online or they would have shipped them without even notifying me.