About 10 years ago, I happened to be in the right place at just the right time . . . when my walking route took me past the most lovely spring garden I had ever seen out “in the wild.” Usually, the spring gardens that get all the attention and all the oohs-and-ahhs are packed with bright spring blooms. But this one wasn’t that! Instead, it was waves and waves . . . of hellebores!
Absolutely inspired, I stopped and gawked for awhile. Took a few pictures. And decided . . . I wanted exactly THAT in my own garden.
Hellebores are a real workhorse plant in the garden. They have lovely green foliage year-round. They bloom early and then for a long time in the spring. They are not favored by hungry deer or rabbits. They’re simple to maintain, and easy to divide and transplant. On the downside, they tend to be on the pricey side. And they’re rather slow to establish and grow.
And 10 years ago, I had . . . exactly ONE hellebore in my garden. I knew it was going to take a while to get the spring look I wanted for my own garden! Yesterday, though, when I went out for my daily “garden constitutional,” I realized . . . I’ve kinda got it going on now. Finally! 10 years later!
At this point, I have about 30 hellebores spread through my back garden. I add a few new ones each year, but a lot of them just come from intentional dividing and transplanting (and many of them came from that ONE hellebore I had in my garden 10 years ago).
I’ve learned a lot about hellebores in that 10 year period, too. How to maintain them to look their best. Where they are most likely to thrive. Who they like to hang out with in the garden.** Where to buy the healthiest new plants. How and when to divide and transplant. (I’ve become kind of a hellebore-nerd, I’m afraid.)
Hellebores are so lovely. Also very subtle. (Poor colorblind Tom doesn’t share my love of the hellebore garden, but he humors me always.) Yesterday, I was so happy that I had stumbled upon that inspirational hellebore garden 10 years ago.
Inspiration . . . can take a while to come to fruition. In the garden. And in life.
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How about you? How does your garden grow?
** Hellebores like to hang out with other spring-blooming plants. In my garden, they mix it up with Virginia bluebells, primrose, epimedium, pulmonaria, brunnera, and the few grape hyacinths I can manage to save from the bunnies. Oh . . . and dandelions. (Because everything hangs out with the dandelions in my garden.)
My tiny front garden looks so good because of inspiration from you and your garden. I have three hellebores near the brunnera (which is blooming). Together they take up most of the space and make my garden shine!
This post is perfect timing. My gardening mojo has returned (probable my gardening overalls😉) and I am going to the garden club sale this weekend so I am adding hellebores to my list of plants to explore.
It’s wonderful how gardening just keeps on giving in many way. You are making me want to plant some hellebores! I like a “less showy” garden myself, one that lasts throughout the season. Unfortunately, arctic weather here in the south over the last few years has wiped out a lot of my garden. I bet your garden is magical.
I’ve never had hellebores, but yours are so lovely that now I want some! I really love those Virginia bluebells, too.
I have tried to grow hellebores a few times — and failed. But I’m gonna try again!! I really love them. I spotted your Virginia bluebells — my mom had so many of them in her wildflower garden! It’s fun this spring to see what’s coming up around Ali’s new house (most exciting so far are lupine & Virginia bluebells).
Gorgeous! I’m so glad mine are finally established-ish. They do grow slowly but now that I’ve got them in the right space (thanks to you) they are indeed growing. And I’ll be adding new hellebores this year, I hope!
Beautiful!
Just beautiful! I’ve got one hellebore in my backyard (we had two, but one didn’t survive), and it seems to be doing well, so perhaps I can divide it and get it to spread in other areas.
I planted a hellebore about three years ago and now it is a lovely and vigorous clump. It is also sowing seeds near the base of the parent plant. I agree that hellebores are ideal plants for difficult settings. Other great plants that reproduce well on their own: Ice follies daffodils, native columbines (red and yellow) purple coneflowers and violets.
Your garden is just lovely. My garden is sloooowww growing this year. I ordered the plantskydd today – hopefully I’ll be able to ward off the bunnies/deer that ate my hostas down to the ground last year.