Someone I worked with used to declare, as we all returned to the office after the Christmas break, “Okay, now it’s spring!” The rest of us would beg to differ, because rain, cold, and even snow are possible until March or even April.
But my coworker had a point. If you know where to look, even early in January, you can see plants budding or even blooming.
Corsican Hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius)
Hellebore “Ruby Wine”
“Ruby Wine” close-up
Algerian Iris (Iris unguicularis)
Best of all, as far as I’m concerned, the Chinese witch hazel, which hardly ever blooms, has managed a respectable show, due to extra watering last summer. OK, this is a pretty substandard photo, but if you look carefully, you can see the threadlike yellow flowers in the upper third of the picture. If you look even more carefully, you might spot a dark-eyed junco (bird) perched on a branch. These juncos are frequent visitors to the bird feeder all winter.
Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis) in bloom, with visiting Dark-eyed JuncoChinese Witch Hazel flowers close-up
All photos taken January 9, 2021, except the last one, which is from January 2015
To my surprise, I forgot to schedule the post I had intended for today (March 22nd). I’ll schedule it for next week, and in the meantime, here are some photos from my garden taken on the first day of spring.
Rhubarb leaves. Wrinkly when young, smoothing out as they mature.
Fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum) and Chionodoxa lucilaeDaffodil (variety unknown)Huge clump of sedge (Carex morrowii) and garden ornamentHellebore “Ruby Wine”This hellebore was a nice surprise. It’s a seedling from one of my old plants, which are mostly pink and purple.
I was about to say something about the garden being a welcome diversion in these days of staying at home and “social distancing,” but that would be inaccurate. The truth is I prefer messing about in the garden to most kinds of socializing.
Fellow bloggers, how are you coping with whatever virus-avoiding situation you’re in? Are you reading, watching, or maybe even writing? Is anyone getting bored?
On a recent trip to Salt Spring Island, I acquired three hellebore plants at Fraser’s Thimble Farm, a nursery that specializes in the unusual and intriguing. Soon after, I read this post about hellebores by Paul Andruss on Sally Cronin’s blog. That inspired me to feature my three new plants in a post of their own.
These plants aren’t your run-of-the-mill hellebores, like most of the ones I already have. They are hybrids specially developed by breeders looking for striking effects and unique colours.
First, Helleborus x ericsmithii “Pirouette”,a lovely soft pink with lime green nectaries and cream-coloured stamens that look like stars.
“Pirouette”
“Pirouette” again.
Next, Helleborus x hybridus “Winter Jewel Black Diamond”. This is about as close as you can get to a black flower. It’s really a dark purple-red with a greyish bloom on the petals that gives them that nearly black look.
“Black Diamond.” You can see the underlying red in the petals on the right.“Black Diamond.” The reverse sides of the flowers look almost blue!
Finally, Helleborus x hybridus “Winter Jewel Ruby Wine”. This one looks gorgeous with the flowers and leaves backlit by sunlight.
“Ruby Wine” living up to its name.“Ruby Wine” flower up close.
The featured image at the top of the post shows “Ruby Wine” with “Ivory Prince” in the background. “Ivory Prince” has lived in a big blue pot near my front door for years. Now it has “Ruby Wine” for company.
Hellebore “Ivory Prince”
While I was taking pictures of the new plants, I noticed this youngish plant of the Corsican hellebore, Helleborus argutifolius, self-seeded in just the right place.
Corsican hellebore’s lime green flowers.
Lastly, not a hellebore at all, but a photo of the Japanese quince, Chaenomeles japonica, that grows against a weathered cedar fence at the back of the garden. Years ago, I saw a photo similar to this in a calendar and determined to reproduce the effect in my own garden. Unlike many horticultural intentions, this one has actually succeeded.
Japanese quince flowers with weathered fence behind.
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