Finally, Hellebores

The evidence of a longer, and colder, winter can be seen in the timing of the initial flowers of Hellebore "Winters Bliss."  This is an early bloomer, and a few years ago it opened its first flowers the first week of February.  Now that we have begun the third week of March, it finally is willing to open up to greet the morning sun.

Temperatures were in the 70's yesterday, as we began the heavy clean-up.  Each year further into my older age, I dread cutting down the ornamental grasses.  We use the hedge trimmer to cut the stalks 6-10 inches above the ground, then everything is dragged down into the ravine, into one of two enormous piles of debris that is too coarse or woody for composting.  We finished cutting a section of grass Dad helped us plant 12 years ago.  But that is only half of it.  The rest will get done next weekend. 

The largest collection of Hellebores are in the North Garden.  Here is a cluster of a pure white variety with strokes of green at the base of the sepals. 

Since they are growing in a place that never gets sunshine, I particularly enjoy the brightness. This clump spreads out wider each year, unlike most of the Hellebores that stay within a small area.

Only one of the purples had an open flower, and it was buried back in the corner between the house and the porch.  Those yellow stamens make the whole image of these flowers come alive.  The purple/black varieties have very large buds, which should be open the next time I am at the house. 

I have never had success in cutting flower stems to take with me when I have to go into the city.  Since they last for weeks when grown outside, I would have thought them to be ideal to use as a cut flower?  I will try again this week and see if I can keep them alive.

Finally, here is a picture of the full moon rising over the Chesapeake Bay last night.  There was still color in the sky from the setting sun.