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As always in the United Kingdom, spring comes in fits and starts. Last week for example saw some brilliantly sunny days with quite mild temperatures and frosty nights. Encouraged by the lovely spring weather, the beautiful show of snowdrops and the rapidly growing hellebores flowers shoots, I got out and about in the garden spreading organic fertiliser and compost around the borders. With weather such as this gardening is a very satisfying activity. On my knees for most of the time at ground level, I was able to appreciate those snowdrops and winter aconites all the more. Our resident pair of Robins accompanied my gardening activity for much of the time. The hen was very busy collecting all manner of dead plant material for her nest. This was cunningly hidden amongst the Persian Ivy Hedra colchica growing against the garage wall, adjacent to the main garden path.
She has hardly stopped for the past three weeks. One of the first things I do on getting out of bed each morning is to sit and watch her flying to and fro with leaves, straw and finally moss to line the nest. Other birds have also been busy singing in the sunshine, especially Dunnocks, Wrens, and Blackbirds. Our local dog Fox also seems to have a full timetable and continues to call loudly in the dead of night. All this spring activity came to an abrupt halt this morning. Heavy snow is now falling as I write and is joined by freezing temperatures. It is only February of course, but time after time we gardeners manage to be tricked into thinking that spring has finally arrived, when really it is still late winter.
After the snowdrops and winter aconites, the Hellebores steal the show. Already, the flowering shoots on most of my plants are well advanced. Some are almost out now, getting somewhat battered by unwelcome snow. But hellebores are extremely tough and come with impressive street- wise credentials for urban living. They are one of the most laid back and dependable perennials around. Preferring dappled shade with a little sun, a moist and organically rich soil in which to put their feet, a little feeding each spring and they thrive.
Hellebores are hardy in most of Britain. In the United States the situation varies according to the climatic zone. The Pacific north-west being perhaps the closest to British conditions on the whole. |
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