Hellebores
After the landscaper finished the new stone pathway to the front door, I asked for a small raised bed in front of the porch. He brought a pallet of mossy stones and some topsoil mixed with compost. When he was finished, a neighbor remarked that the bed looked as if it had always been there. A fine compliment to his work.
This planting area is sheltered between the porch and a stand of mature trees. Dry shade is a challenge here. In other parts of my garden, I have solved dry shade conditions by using spring wildflowers like mayapple and columbine, or false Solomons seal and woodland aster. In the most challenging areas, only vines like Virginia creeper or crossvine can survive. These are all native plants, as has been my focus for many years.
That was before I bought my first hellebore. Two years ago I attended the winter open house at a local mail order nursery. I was tempted by aHeronswood hybrid in pink. The next year, I bought a yellow one. Then friends gave me seedlings they had dug from their yards.
I confess, I love this plant. The foliage stays fresh and green, even in the heat and humidity of our NC summers. And in late January, when the holidays are over and winter seems long, dark and cold, the hellebores begin to bloom. I check them every day, as they can be easily seen through the living room window.
I wish hellebores were native. I searched the internet to see if they were valuable to wildlife. The only websites that made that claim were from England, where Helleborus foetidus is said to be native. I also read that many other hellebores originated in the Balkans as did my grandparents many years before.
Then yesterday I was sitting on our front porch admiring the hellebores, when a hover fly landed at my feet. It surveyed the hellebore flowers and flew off again. Are hellebores useless beauties or winter pollen providers? When I see seedlings, I'll know.
5 Comments:
michael kors outlet, louboutin shoes, louis vuitton outlet, oakley sunglasses, longchamp outlet, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, tiffany and co, prada handbags, oakley sunglasses cheap, kate spade outlet, oakley sunglasses, coach outlet store online, polo ralph lauren, michael kors outlet online sale, michael kors outlet, louboutin, michael kors outlet, longchamp handbags, nike shoes, coach factory outlet, air max, longchamp handbags, kate spade handbags, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton outlet stores, polo ralph lauren outlet, air max, prada outlet, coach purses, burberry outlet, nike free, jordan shoes, michael kors outlet, gucci outlet, chanel handbags, louboutin outlet, burberry outlet, tory burch outlet, true religion jeans, ray ban sunglasses, christian louboutin, coach outlet, louis vuitton handbags, michael kors outlet, tiffany and co, true religion jeans
louis vuitton uk, air max pas cher, timberland, polo lacoste, hogan outlet, air max, longchamp, polo ralph lauren, michael kors, hollister, north face, barbour, air jordan, sac louis vuitton, true religion outlet, nike free, lululemon outlet online, nike blazer, nike roshe run, nike tn, nike free pas cher, louboutin, air force, michael kors, sac louis vuitton, vanessa bruno, ray ban sunglasses, ralph lauren, nike roshe, hollister, true religion outlet, converse pas cher, sac burberry, north face, longchamp, sac hermes, mulberry, oakley pas cher, hollister, new balance pas cher, air max, sac guess, nike huarache, vans pas cher, abercrombie and fitch, sac longchamp, ray ban pas cher, louis vuitton, nike trainers, michael kors pas cher, nike air max
nike roshe run, birkin bag, ugg, reebok outlet, uggs, lululemon outlet, canada goose, new balance shoes, p90x, ugg australia, mcm handbags, canada goose outlet, herve leger, ugg boots clearance, chi flat iron, jimmy choo outlet, canada goose jackets, marc jacobs, soccer shoes, instyler, ferragamo shoes, abercrombie and fitch, mac cosmetics, soccer jerseys, valentino shoes, giuseppe zanotti, bottega veneta, north face jackets, rolex watches, mont blanc, ghd, ugg boots, wedding dresses, insanity workout, asics running shoes, vans shoes, north face outlet, uggs outlet, babyliss pro, nfl jerseys, beats by dre, celine handbags, canada goose, ugg pas cher, ugg boots
air max, canada goose, pandora charms, montre homme, iphone 6 cases, timberland boots, converse shoes, hollister, juicy couture outlet, moncler, juicy couture outlet, lancel, moncler outlet, canada goose, converse, supra shoes, moncler, swarovski, thomas sabo, moncler, pandora charms, vans, karen millen, ugg, ralph lauren, hollister, canada goose uk, moncler, coach outlet store online, ray ban, gucci, canada goose, parajumpers, moncler, air max, hollister clothing store, louboutin, toms shoes, ugg, baseball bats, swarovski crystal, oakley, moncler, links of london, wedding dresses, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry, rolex watches
Great job for publishing such a nice article. Your article isn’t only useful but it is additionally really informative. Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us.shade sail with posts
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home