On the Threshold of Another Spring

been budding up nicely for some weeks now and one or two are flowering in between bouts of hard frost. Of all the perennial plants in the garden, hellebores are perhaps the most reliable once you get the conditions right. The easiest group for beginners just happens to be one of the showiest.

Hellebore orientalis comes in a wide variety of colours and flowers and are relatively easy to grow in most gardens. You can of course buy hellebores in most garden centres these days, but the best forms are undoubtedly obtained from specialist growers. To get some of the rarer forms and colours you often have to join a waiting list; such is 'hellebore fever'. Once you have some you never want to be without them and inevitably you end up wanting more and joining those waiting lists at some point.

The colour range really has been extended hugely in recent years. White, plum, blue-black and even a primrose yellow form are all widely available now if you take the trouble to seek the best amongst the rest.

As February draws to a close the race is on between two distinguished roses in my garden. Roses are not normally associated with spring in most gardens I guess, but rosa chinensis 'Old Blush China', a lovely pink china rose is already in the starting blocks. On its heels is an old coppery-yellow rose called 'Maigold', which is a good climber for a cold north wall. Both have produced their first flower of the season during March in past seasons, so the race is on again.

With so much to do and so much to enjoy, spring certainly is an exciting and rewarding season, make sure you enjoy it as much as I intend to do.

Specialist Suppliers & Pruning Information

• Farmyard Nurseries - Hellebore specialist nursery in Wales (UK ordering).
• Ashwood Nurseries - Hellebore specialist nursery in West Midland (UK & EU ordering).
• Imberhome Lane Nursery - Camellia specialists in West Sussex (UK ordering).
• Clematis - Clematis pruning and cultivation.
• Rose pruning - Rose pruning made simple.

Graham Leatherbarrow.
February, 2003.

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