They're not Hellebore-ing...

...they're Hellebor-illiant!

I may have detected a level of sarcasm in this sentence, uttered as it was by a teen hitherto unimpressed by my favourite winter bloom! Glamorous Eldest was persuaded to accompany me to the Bosvigo Hellebore Day this year, bribed by the promise of cake, in the absence of my Daisy partner who had  jaunted off out of county! 

(I have abandonment issues apparently - wish Glamorous Eldest wasn't studying psychology sometimes)

ANYWAY.

Back to the real subject - Hellebore Day

It was a cold, cold crisp day, dry and with occasional splashes of sun. Once parked and donation to Shelterbox made (check out their good work here) we ventured into the Woodland garden.

First obviously, there were the Hellebores...

white...

pinks...

and yellows.

Then there were Snowdrops...

I'm no Galanthophile but there seemed to be lots of different types...

and underplanted with Pushkinia.

Then there was the blossom...

Hamamelis...




more Hamamelis...




Winter Honeysuckle or Lonicera fragrantisima...




and Almond.




Hamamelis, Leucojum and Daffodils

Ribes

Epimedium and Hellebores in a splash of sun.

Drifts of loveliness.

Pushkinia, Daffodils and Daphne.

Sadly in the biting cold the fragrance of the Hamamelis and this Daphne was absent, even when the sun came out.

And then there was the sale area.

Surprisingly, just after lunch there were still some plants left. In past years unless you are queueing at 9.30 there is little left.

I was very taken by this one...

it was upright and tall, very tempting, but I resisted.

I spent my money instead on tea and cake by the roaring fire in the servants hall.

The perfect place to warm up. 

Glamorous eldest supported my decision!

-x🌸🌼🌸x-

Start of Spring

This weekend is the annual Hellebore Day at Bosvigo House in Truro.

Regular readers will know it is one of my favourite events in the gardening calendar. I get to go and drool over beautiful Hamamelis, Hellebores, Snowdrops and lots of other early bulbs. 

I sometimes even force myself to buy the odd Hellebore!!!

I'm looking forward to it, it's on Saturday 24 February and starts at 10am. 

Come along if you can - all proceeds go to Shelterbox as usual, and there's tea and cake!

Just to whet your appetite here are my past visits.

2017

2015

2014

2013

Fingers crossed they'll have some of these!!!


For more information go to their website here.


-x 🌸🌺🌼x-

February round up

So finally I have made it out into the garden and even done a bit of tidying!

The rail, hail, wind and general miserable-ness abated and the sun was out sporadically for nearly three days making Cornwall look like this.

Obviously it didn't last, yesterday the view from the cliffs on the north coast was this!

THAT is Cornish mizzle 

😒

Being very over excited by the good weather I rushed out to photograph anything I could find in the garden and there was more than I had noticed as I rushed past in my arctic gear struggling with an umbrella.

I could see my favourite Hellebore - it's tall and elegant even when surrounded by dead leaves and uncleared Japanese Anemone remains.

but I'd missed my low and lovely Pulmonaria

My newest Hellebore is flowering properly for the first time - last year it was a little half hearted as it got completely buried, so I moved it and it seems to have worked. The gleam of the yellow flowers and paler green leaves is glorious.

Even the tall white Hellebore I bought at the same time, that I thought had been lost forever has revived and is doing it's thing (although it is a  bit minimal!). I'm hopeful for next year.

Then there is my oldest Hellebore - bought via London from my Mums garden in Liverpool. Its bronze leaves surrounding dark red buds is one of my favourite colour combinations and the flowers last really well.

The pale, fresh Corsican Hellebore is almost over now, although the bracts will last for weeks.

The Primroses are rushing out in the sun.

The tall speckled Hellebore has survived the slugs this year, so delicate and perfect for the dappled spot next to the gate.

And my collection of self seeded, collected and cross bred Hellebores are slowly colonising the shady corner under the enormous Pittosporum tree.

By the back door the pots of Tete a Tete are doing their lovely, cheery thing...

and the Iris Reticulata have appeared despite the total water logging of their pot!

At one point the top was a small pond that wouldn't drain - it's on my list to sort, there is obviously something going on inside.

My little Euphorbia is doing well, it's the only one I have now other than the huge Euphorbia Mellifera or Honey Spurge. All the others have dwindled and disappeared. I think possibly they have dried out (seems ridiculous I know - everything is utterly waterlogged at the moment). I like them so much though - I will try some others and try new placements. I'm determined to get some others established.

 The Epimedium was finally chopped back this week - and only just in time. The flowers are on their way, tiny wiggles of buds appearing from the cropped mounds.

And then on my way in to download my findings I passed the plastic greenhouse which is stuffed with all the tender plants that need care in the winter when I spotted a flash of colour.

A self seeded Nasturtium! Flowering in February!

Spring is certainly on the way.

🌞

x

If you want to check out what was in the round up last February take a look here