Hellebores are a little like exotic dancers, inasmuch as they take great delight in delaying their hidden delights, tantalising and teasing us before they finally remove their last veil and expose their true form. Anna’s Red is the greatest tease, exposing her dark red buds as they emerge from the shadows of the ground just enough to make our mouths water in expectation; her stems follow, equally dark and red, growing elegantly into graceful and lithesome limbs, thrusting upwards and flaunting the buds of promise. Nothing demure about her: confident and self-assured, when she feels the time is right she will brazenly go the whole way, head and shoulders above other hellebores, and flaunt her naked beauty.
Head bowed, Ellen Picotee is demure in comparison:
For modesty, Harvington Double White keeps her petticoats on…
whereas Harvington Double Lime is like the principal boy in a pantomime:
Coquettish Harvington Double Pink Speckled takes time over her toilette, her make up flawless…
… but Cheryl’s Shine is a thoroughly modern miss, a real English rose, with no need for blusher to accentuate her natural colouring, oblivious to the pollen that others might want to brush away, and just happy to be herself.
These are just some of the dancing girls in the garden, although most are still in their dressing room. Do I have a favourite? As I think someone else has said recently, it’s probably the last one I looked at – but seriously, how can you have a favourite when they are all so endearing in their very individual ways?
I hope you enjoyed the girls’ performance tonight; for other Saturday Six acts please visit Jon the Propagator’s blog.
Rambling in the Garden 
Just beautiful and you seem to know them well.
Personally acquainted with them all, Beverley!
What a beautiful collection you have!
There are some beauties, aren’t there Kris?
They are all gorgeous, how can you have a favourite!
Hellebore is one of my favorite flowers; tried growing some a couple years ago but didn’t read up on their requirements and lost it early on in the hot Oklahoma summer. Shame, because it was a pretty green one much like yours. I’ll have to try again once I have a more permanent garden once more.
That’s a shame, Anna. The UK climate certainly seems to suit them
I think I’ll be able to get them to grow next try now that I know they’re noooot a full sun flower, lol. Fingers crossed, at least!
Yes, here’s to happy hellebores!
Really gorgeous. I’ve moved most of mine and I’m so pleased they have all come up and are flowering away happily. They really cheer up winter Xx
Pleased to read they have survived their move – here I have no qualms about moving my plants either
Thank you.
Gorgeous girls indeed, hard to pick a favourite but Harvington Double Pink Speckled is quite the beauty.
She certainly looks immaculate, and the central boss is fascinating when you study the detail
Yes, nice to get in close with a macro lens, but they are not the most accommodating flowers for letting you do that.
Indeed they are not, but some of the newer varieties, especially the H ericsmithii and the Rodney Davey ones like Cheryl’s Shine have upward facing flowers which are more obliging
I should look out for those. Do you have a recommended supplier?
I tthink they get snapoed up really quickly when they are available but I have just (since Christmas) had some from Burncoose – I know they are in Cornwall but I’m not sure how close you are
Burncoose is quite near, about 20 minutes drive, I have bought plants from there and I will be visiting soon to walk in their woodland garden, they have some lovely magnolias and camellias etc.
Sounds a lovely day out – good to have it almost on your doorstep
Yes it is a nice little garden, but usually ends up expensive as I can’t resist buying something!
I boughta few plants from the recently as I wanted speciific things that were not widely available – they were good quality and worth their price, I think, but seeing things in the flesh adds additional temptation of course!
They are somewhat expensive, and I have bought things that have died, but they did replace them.
A great line up, and wonderful words from the ‘narrator’.
Aw thanks Noelle; I enjoyed writing the post 😊
Wow
You have a beautiful collection there. I’m quite jealous 😊
Now that Anna sounds a rum ‘un Cathy. I could find room for them all in my garden but have a soft spot for ‘Harvington’s Double White’. Hope to visit a garden centre this week so maybe a chance to see ‘Cheryl’s Shine’ in the flesh. She looks most fetching.
I thought you would have had an Anna of your own – do you not?
I love them all Cathy! The speckled one is particularly endearing.
They say you shouldn’t have a favourite child, but since these are yours & not mine, I can unabashedly say that Anna’s Red & the Speckled Pink are mine, hands down. Great collection of hellebore, there.
Cathy your Hellebores collection is a sweet and beautiful dream. Anna´s Red I love it. Ellen Picotee is delicate. Harvington Double White is lovely. Harvington Double Lime has a color like no other. Harvington Double Pink Speckle is wonderful. I like Cheryl´s Shine very much. See all these fantastic Hellebores now in Winter in your garden should be wonderful, cheer your heart. Thank you Cathy for these magnificent photos that have made me happy. Greetings from Margarita.
I am glad you enjoyed them – every one is gorgeous and brings a lot of pleasure
We don’t have anything to give to creator of this…