The Hellebores are coming!

Like many gardeners, I have been drawn into the recent increase in popularity of the Hellebore. I doubt I will have the beautiful display that you can get in a Woodland setting (Garden Poet, that's you) but I wanted to give it a go. So I got 2 Hs from the rescue corner at the Garden Centre and planted them in the back corner of the garden under the overhanging branches of a neighbours tree. As usual when I'm planting, I had a lot of hope but little expectation.

The first thing I've got to say about Hellebores is that they are tough buggers. This is probably because even the cultivated varieties are pretty close to the native plants. They have been living cheek by jowl with a Hosta I was kindly given by the in-laws when we moved in and you can see a real difference. The Hosta is with us so briefly that it may as well not be - it unfurls some pale green and white striped leaves and then they are gone. Slugs do not seem to be attracted to the thick and glossy leaved Hellebore leaves.

Somewhere in the middle of that badly taken photo, there is a greenish white bud. While some gardeners might expect that this would happen as a matter of course, I am invariably astounded. So, the Christmas or Lenten Rose (as it is also known) is budding up and I should have flowers soon! Happy Christmas to me!