I hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day! It's always good to celebrate our loved ones. We can celebrate them with candy, or with flowers, the no calorie no sugar way to say, "I love you."
To light purple-
To a dark blackish purple that is a delight-
Today I am linking with-
Today's flowers hosted by Denise
Saturday's Critters hosted by Eileen
In a Vase on Monday hosted by Cathy
Garden Blogger's Bloom Day hosted by Carol
Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma and Mystical Magical Teacher
I Heart Macro hosted by Laura- announcing a break from having a meme
We finally had a nice break of dry sunny weather, so I was able to do a better survey of flowers blooming for GBBD. Going down the ramp, I saw that the dependable Rosemary is blooming-
On the bank of our ramp is my winter blooming heather, Erica x darleyensis-
By the side of the ramp, the delightful fragrance of Sarcococca ruscifolia greets me-
In the front yard are bright pink Primroses, along with my creature feature of the day, a salamander found buried under leaves when I tried to dig out any emerging flowers or bulbs buried in my border-
Then on to the stars of the winter flowers, my Hellebore beds, where a few hellebores plonked in a new bed some 26 years ago have made themselves at home and multiplied seen through the maple-
All those flowers drop a lot of seeds which come up by themselves, I need to do some transplanting-
The colors range from pink/white, most speckled with magenta-
To a dark blackish purple that is a delight-
As you can see, their major defect is that the nodding flowers hang down so I can't see their pretty faces. A few years ago I bought many of the new hybrid H. lividus varieties, such as Ivory Prince-
Only to find out the next year that they lacked in hardiness or suitability and didn't return. But the Skagit Winter Jewels series did, looking great, but still down-facing, Cherry Blossom-
And Royal Heritage, here with the surprise of an early ladybird beetle-
So that concludes the GBBD post of my flowers blooming outdoors, but here is a glimpse of blooms in my windowsill garden-
More of the orchids have opened, imagine my surprise that my orchid in small vase from 2 weeks ago is still going strong along with the Hebes-
And now for my current In a Vase on Monday flowers, answering Cathy's challenge to find some flowers to plonk in a vase every Monday of the year, featuring Hellebores floated in a bowl because of their short stems, since I'm not cutting off any buds. First I tried this bowl, which I liked but is not big enough, with an assortment, including a green one, probably another species-
Then I tried a bigger crystal bowl-
I took a few close-ups-
Love those red nectaries on Cherry Blossom-
It's like having a flower in a flower. I find the Hellebore bowl quite festive, a lot of cheer for the middle of winter. What is cheering up your winter? -Hannah
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Hello Hannah, great sighting of the salamander. I love your beautiful flowers, the hellebores are my favorite. Just gorgeous! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy new week!
ReplyDeleteThe salamander was buried under the leaves, Eileen, they are rarely out in the open here. The Hellebores are wonderful, blooming so early and taking over their beds.;-)
DeleteEnjoyed seeing your hellebores this week Hannah. Cherry Blossom is a beauty. I'm planning a visit to a hellebore farm in a week or two and will keep in mind your experience with the newer hybrids that keep their faces up. Might try just one though.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susie, I did read of someone on the IaVoM meme trying growing them in a pot instead of in the ground. I really want to get a double one next.
DeleteHellebores are wonderful plants, giving us colorful blooms in the Winter!
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Lea
Yes, Lea, they definitely fill a big gap up here.
DeleteHannah how lovely to see all your blooms in February. And oh that bowl of hellebores is stunning. Can't wait to see mine...hopefully in early April.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donna, I was surprised to see how long your plants hung on in the fall. Winter is pretty bleak here, except for the evergreens.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous carpet of hellebores, Hannah, and a lovely selection of their blooms to admire during the week. I love to see them close up too, so thanks for sharing all those pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy, I'm interested to see how long they will last in the bowl. I especially admire the centers like little crowns, and speckled petals.
DeleteIs there anything better than Hellebores multiplying! That combo of the speckled white and the very dark flower is particularly dramatic. I have had good luck with Ivory Prince and had a slope where I could plant him a bit higher up so I can actually see the flowers. Such a nice change from bending down all the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that Ivory Prince grows for you, Linda. They are such lovely flowers. Perhaps they need very sharp drainage.
DeleteThere is a poem about a salamander named Samuel. He was taken to school in a shoe box and died quietly during spelling. I hope your little friend got back under the leaves.
ReplyDeleteRest assured the little salamander was returned to shelter, they are my special little treasures, but they are good at hiding in mulch and even soil so I always worry when doing some digging.
DeleteLovely blooms in your photos. We have some plants blooming because of our warm weather in Texas, but I'm afraid they will be frozen off.
ReplyDeletehttp://senioradventureswithlindakay.blogspot.com.
Thanks, Linda, we have been having warmer weather too, I hope it doesn't turn cold for you.
Deleteyour assortment of hellebores are stunning, Hannah and look so pretty floating in both the bowls.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann, I like all the varied colors and styles too.
DeleteHellebores are one of the few flowers that produce no guilt from picking them to display indoors, as you have done. It's the best way to enjoy their stunning beauty (which they tend to hide with their nodding ways).
ReplyDeleteStrangely I've never picked them until now, I usually have gone for enjoying them longer on the plant, but I decided the trade-off of getting to enjoy the photograph in perpetuity outweighs the shortening of the flower's life, Ricki, so I'm enjoying the vases.
DeleteI do love your hellebores and obviously so does that sweet little ladybug!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dorothy, I went back today and found 2 ladybugs, perhaps it was a Valentine occasion.
DeleteAlways enjoy your photos Hanna and thank you for sharing them with Today's Flowers. Really appreciate the support :) Your hellebores are gorgeous, and so are the orchids in the window. The little salamander is cute too. Great macro shots, fun to see all that detail. Have a great week :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise, I seem to have gotten carried away this week. Thanks for hosting!
DeleteUps! Sorry, mispelled your name. I sometimes get confused as one of my nieces is called Hanna without the H. I'll try to remember next time.
ReplyDeleteThat's ok, I particularly like the palindrome aspect of Hannah.
DeleteHow wonderful that you get so many Hellebore seedlings, Hannah! I'd be in heaven if that happened here. I love that Erica too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kris, I'm realizing I really need to transplant them to some new areas so they can work their magic creating a bed.
DeleteThat's quite a collection of hellebores! Mine are still too new for seedlings to show up yet. Now that I've finally managed to keep rosemary alive through a winter, I'm hoping I'll have those lovely blue flowers next winter, too.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the rosemary likes the extreme sharp drainage on the ramp, Evan. In addition I don't get around to watering it much in the summer either. I'm thinking I need to transplant the crowded little hellebore seedlings.
DeleteHi Hannah - that's a wonderful collection of hellebores - especially the dark purple one. I've only got one in my garden which also made an appearance in my vase on monday. Here it is. https://viewsfrommygardenbench.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/in-a-vase-on-monday-hellebore-half-cup-full-afternoon-tea-at-tatton-park/
ReplyDeleteI owe my collection to pass-alongs from a dear friend. Some of the colors are hybrids from the originals, it's so interesting seeing what turns up. I just wish there were some double genes in the mix.
DeleteI've enjoyed your hellebores..such a lovely variety of colourings.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Noelle, I'm amazed at them. I hope to add a double, I don't know if they would hybridize too or not.
DeleteYou have spotted a cute ladybird among beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteIt is photogenic.
Thanks, Rainfield, I was amazed to see one out so soon, I thought they should be still sleeping in their little ladybug beds dreaming of aphids.
DeleteI love the hellebores, they're all gorgeous! The salamander was neat to see. Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gunilla, I think of you will all the ice and snow and hope spring comes soon for you and for us!
DeleteLovely blossoms, Hannah. And a special salamander!
ReplyDelete~
Thanks, Thunder, those little salamanders are a very secretive bunch.
DeleteOur yard is still such a huge mess. I get my pretty garden fix by visiting your blog. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon, that's sweet of you to say. I can't wait for the columbines, anemones, and other spring flowers.
ReplyDeleteYou've got such a nice collection of hellebores and your bowl is lovely! Happy belated GBBD!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter, I'm so happy when a plant really likes it here and naturalizes!
DeleteI love your bowl full of hellebore flowers! What a lovely mix of colours you have. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy, I like your test tube vases as a great way to display hellebores!
DeleteI am enjoying so much everyone's Hellebores; I love how you've displayed them in the bowl, that way you get to see their faces.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christina, I enjoy them but the squirrels and voles have ruined all my tulips except a few species tulips, so I have to admire all your lovely tulips.
ReplyDelete