Better late than never - Hellebores

The last weekend in February was the annual Hellebore Day at Bosvigo Gardens in Truro. As regular readers will know this is a bit of a pilgrimage for us - a great motivational kick start to the gardening year. This year didn't disappoint!

My favourite Hellebore...

All of the hellebores are created by the patient crossing and breeding of the garden owner, Wendy, and so are always labelled Bosvigo single or Bosvigo double. They are not registered varieties but they are oh so beautiful none-the-less. They grow very well and keep to their characteristics perfectly. Hellebores cross quite easily and sometimes the crosses, although strong, can be slightly dull colours and swamp the more glamorous parents. I have bought *ahem* 'a number' of Bosvigo Hellebores over the last 10 years and they are all going strong and look as lovely as ever.

I am annually inspired by the Hamamelis or Witchhazels too.

This year will be the year I add one to my garden - I am determined!

I particularly like the Marmalade colours, with their dark red flower bases - although they appear to be less strongly scented so now I'm wavering again.

The darkest of black metallic Hellebores which reflects the sun to look almost grey, with that lime green centre - gorgeous!

This year was also a very good year for Epimediums.

There are often a few but this year they were stunning and abundant (although they are hard to photograph as the slightest breeze makes their delicate flowers dance like mad).

Beautiful, oriental flower forms in subtle colours suspended above a mound of comparatively ordinary leaves.

A double white Hellebore, tall and elegant...

and underneath everything drifts of Pushkinia...

Snowdrops still going strong...

 and lots of other pretty underplanting.

Anemones and Primroses.

Stately Euphorbia flowers - another stunning flower form and colour combination...

 

and a striking truest blue Pulmonaria.

And behind the house the usual sunny bank spotted with Crocus and naturalised Daffodils...

worshipping the sun.

And then this beautiful mystery! It's new one on me - does anyone know what it is? 

I'll be researching it but any suggestions would be gratefully received.

 (my Mum will know, or my Aunt. If they can't help I'm all at sea!!)

Right, now it's time to get out into our gardens, inspired and rejuvenated - there's certainly no shortage of things to be done!

If only this howling gale would stop...

oh, and the rain!

xxx

Here are some links to other Bosvigo visits.

Spring 2018,   Summer 2017,   Spring 2017

A New Year!

Another year has started - 2019 already, 2018 still seemed young to me.

The year has got off to a good start, lots of work, lovely walks out and about.

Sunny riverside walks...

and riverside sunsets.

Dramatic beach sunsets...

and murky hillside sunsets (this is a non-photographer taking a picture of a photographer taking a photograph- hence he's not very visible! His shot was much better).

Monochrome winter promenades...

and gloomy woodland stomps.

Nothing is getting done in the garden yet, lists are forming in my mind but nothing is persuading me to go out into the gloom/rain/cold. Other things are on the move!!

After a lovely settled Christmas with the family we've started on a more changeable phase of life now. 

My son (in the cap below) is off travelling for 4 months this weekend, his lovely girlfriend has already gone.

I'm managing my anxiety so far - I'm adopting the 'head in the sand' approach and pretending it's not happening. That's going to stop working when he actually does go! As they keep saying on the news - we're in uncharted territory!!

My daughter (right) is planning her travelling for later in the year with her (also lovely) boyfriend so I better get used to it. Having recently expanded our family to six, we're moving ever closer to the time when it's more often just the two of us.

I might feel the need to retreat into the garden for some recuperation and restorative time.

If only the weather would settle down and the list of essential (and therefore tedious) jobs was shorter! 

Then if ever I needed proof that things carry on regardless and hope springs eternal - the Iris Reticulata appeared, rain-soaked and cheerful!

What a beautiful colour - Hurrah for spring!

And please ignore the weeds on the right.

-x😳x-