Helleborus "Gold Finch"...I was really looking forward to watching this one bloom. There had been 2 buds that I'd been watching and they finally opened a couple of days ago but did I get a photo while they were still attached? Sadly, no.
Am also a bit sad by the devastation to Helleborus "Phoenix". I did manage a previous photo of her, but when a new flower opened I had not yet captured that one. Here it is now.
Then there are the Helleborus Orientalis...lots of 'em...just lying everywhere:
H. "Red Lady" had one flower still hanging on...but the rest, scattered.
H. "Ashwood Doubles"...also a wreck. Never even had a chance to see the buds open up.
HCG "Green Corsican" didn't have every flower removed, though it was certainly also mauled:
As was H. ballardiae "Pink Frost", another favorite. This one wasn't hurt much--just bruised.
Fortunately H. "Pink Lady" was allowed to keep most of her buds, as well...
BUT. I'm not happy about this. Last spring something similar happened. The devastation was so horrible I can't remember whether I shared photos or not. I started using "Bobbex" at that time, thinking it would keep the deer and squirrels at bay. I thought it was working. I'm not sure what creature came over the fence and decided to ruin my garden, but they better be on the lookout because I'm going to be keeping my eyes open tonight.
I'm still torn between sad and mad. I want to cry and I want to scream. But I do know the sun will come out tomorrow and I'm not dead yet...so it isn't the end of my world.
But. You know. If you are a gardener, you know.
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.
