Christmas Rose in Bloom

This morning as I was out with our 2 doxies, I snapped a few photos of some of my Hellebores beginning to bloom amongst the thick layers of leaves:

Several of the Helleborus niger 'Jacob' (also called Christmas Rose) have huge buds already opening, and some of the H. ballardiae 'Pink Frost' have pretty pink buds. I love these 2 Hellebore varieties because they will continue to produce buds and blooms from late fall into late spring/early summer and will even hang on to some of their 'bracts' which look like they are still flowering all summer!

Christmas Rose: H. niger "Jacob"

   

H. ballardiae "Pink Frost"

 

Here is an H. niger with bracts from last spring/summer. I took the photo today, December 2nd...see how they are still 'hanging on'? Basically, in my garden, Christmas Rose comes into bloom in November/December and hangs on until the following Christmas! That's pretty cool, I think :)

In case you wonder how I keep track of the names of my plants, here's a clue...metal plant markers ;)

Over time, the names fade a bit and the squirrels chew on the labels, but for the most part they work well to keep me from being confused about 'what is what' in the garden!

It's also somewhat easy to distinguish these particular Helleborus varieties from the orientalis and hybrid varieties because these have thicker, 'leatherier' leaves.

What gifts have you discovered today? Until next time,

Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/

Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.