Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Bloomday, again so soon?

Well gosh that month went by fast! I jumped back into Garden Blogger's Bloomday with February's post and somehow between then, and now, I've visited a garden show in Seattle, a garden show in Eugene, and was stuck at home for a week when a foot of snow fell—in my garden, in Portland, in February. Oh and I've froze my toes off whenever I've ventured outside to work in the garden because it's been COLD! Aye yai yai what happened to spring this year?

Yesterday, March 14th, is when I took these photos and it did feel like spring might finally be here, dare we dream? Here's Helleborus 'Rio Carnival'...

Helleborus x ballardiae 'Cinnamon Snow'

 H. 'Onyx Odyssey'


Helleborus foetidus


Another 'Rio Carnival'...

Helleborus 'Ice 'n Roses Red'


I think this is one of the 'Frostkiss' hellebores, but I can't remember which one. I have two others that aren't blooming, just their foliage is unfolding. I'm not so impressed with this series.

H. x ballardiae Pink Frost


’Ice n Roses Merlot’


Helleborus x hybridus 'Jade Tiger'


And a new one! Not even planted yet, purchased at the O'Byrnes Northwest Garden Nursery last weekend; Winter Jewels 'Peppermint Ice' Helleborus x hybridus.

I'm quite amazed that I've accumulated so many hellebores, they're tough little flowers so it's nice to have them able to withstand whatever our crazy winter might throw at them. Speaking of, my Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold' had started to bloom when the cold and snow hit. 

Some of the flowers were open, those are kind of a dull manila folder color now. Others are starting to open their usual vibrant yellow, but the scent is diminished and the hummingbirds aren't so interested. It's a sad state of affairs.

Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Akebono' is slowed way down, but gradually opening. 
It was nice to see this monster bumble bee—that leaf he's laying on measures nearly an inch across— he was either sleeping, or maybe still slowed down by the overnight chill, as he didn't mind my sticking a camera in his fuzzy face.
The Daphne x houtteana blooms are way behind this spring, but at least they're there in bud form, the plant made it through the snow and cold okay.

Euphorbia rigida, oh how I love your many shapes and colors...



Arctostaphylos x 'Austin Griffiths'

Normally Austin would be done blooming by now, this year he's just getting started.

Mahonia x media 'Marvel'

Asarum maximum 'Ling Ling', aka panda face ginger.

From here on I will only plant this plant in containers, even a stock tank planting will do. Otherwise the freaky blooms are decimated by slugs.

My last two Bloomday blooms are inside the house, first up Aporophyllum 'Shirley', an orchid cactus.

And a NOID epiphyllum—this crazy plant has bloomed off and on all winter. It currently has multiple buds (seven at last count) in some state of bloom...

For more Bloomday blooms visit May Dreams Gardens—our hostess who rounds up all the bloom links.

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27 comments:

  1. I had no idea you had so many hellebores! I have just a few, but they bloom so reliably (and are so pretty) I should add more!

    What happened to spring? I think it moved elsewhere this year and left us stuck in perpetual winter mode.

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    1. I buy a couple of hellebores every spring, they're starting to add up! (too bad they aren't bulking up... not enough summer water probably)

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    2. Well, spring sure didn't move to Phoenix. My garden is a month behind where it usually is. But I am not complaining about the rain!! Love the hellebores, Loree! Can't grow them here to enjoy seeing all yours!

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    3. I'll echo what Gerhard said, I had no idea you had so many hellebores. I am particularly drawn to the dark maroon and green flowers. There are so many choices when it comes to flower color and form compared to 10 years ago that I would like to see plant breeders turn focus on the leaves next. Given that is what we see for 11 months of the year, it would be nice to see some more variety in leaf texture or variegation.

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  2. Beautiful flower photos!
    Wonderful collection of Hellebores!
    Great photo of the Bumble Bee!
    Happy Bloom Day!

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  3. Quite the display, Loree, especially from a "foliage fanatic" ;) I'm impressed by your orchid cacti and I was overwhelmed by the beauty and sheer number of your hellebores. I've had not a single bloom from my more modest collection this year, which I'm beginning to take personally. Rain and colder temperatures have delayed a number of flowers in my garden but I don't think that explains the hellebores.

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    1. That orchid cactus is such a reliable bloomer, I love it!

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  4. Thank the lord for Hellebores! Bunny proof, slug proof, weather proof... they keep me happy. I purchased three more this winter to enjoy on my patio and moved them to the garden yesterday. Your newest addition, Peppermint Ice, is immediately added to my wish list, its a stunner. I'm also interested in a true yellow Hellebore, which is hard to find.
    Chavli

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    1. Bunny proof? Not here. The bunnies ate my Helleborus foetidus to the ground last year.

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    2. I am shocked! Helleborus foetidus is the very first hellebore in my garden, almost 3" wide today, and never as much as a nibble.

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  5. Two of my favorite plants are hellebores and mahonias, and yours are SO beautiful. Thanks for sharing your blooms today

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    1. Mahonia flowers are so underappreciated.

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  6. Beautiful hellebores! I've had "Onyx Odyssey" on my plant wish list for years now but haven't seen it anywhere around here. Annie's Annuals used to carry it but it appears to have been discontinued.

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    1. It is very hard to find! I looked this year but wasn't able to locate one.

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    2. I have one of these. It's gorgeous but I don't think it's as robust as my others that are multiplying everywhere. It got kind of overtaken for a while, survived but is still pretty small and slower to grow. Unlike everything else, my hellebores are doing great, such a bright spot in a slow cold year.

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    3. So just after reading this I got an email from Dennis 7Dees, big 2gal hellebores 30% off, and they listed Onyx Odyssey as a "new arrival". Pessimistically I thought it had faded out of cultivation. There are times being wrong is pretty glorious. They had a whole bunch of other gorgeous ones as well.

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    4. Found it on their website - Thanks!!! It appears that one can shop online but do you happen to know if they will ship to California?

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  7. Beautiful bloomers! Your Hellebore collection is impressive. :)

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  8. Your indoor plant blooms are beautiful, and your love of hellebores is quite apparent. My favorite is that little one, Helleborus foetidus. So dainty, yet so beautiful. Your spring seems to be recovering nicely. Here's hoping it continues without any more deep freezes.

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    1. Thankfully I think (hope) we're off the hook for freezes—then again it snowed last April...

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  9. That ginger has the best flower I’ve ever seen. The garden in the previous post was so full of ideas to emulate. A great place to tour.

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    1. I'm glad you like the ginger flowers, many people do not.

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    2. I love them too. Had one of these and tried to grow indoors. Sadly, it did not make it. Next time will plant outside in a pot.

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  10. One of your photos shows gravel in various shades of brown. I remember seeing gray gravel in one of your posts from many years ago. Did you top off the gray? (I like brown much better!)

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    1. No gravel changes. There are both grey and brown stones in the mix.

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