Helleborus 2016

[Bernadette]

Most of the hellebores are between 2 and 6 years old, the majority from seed,
a lot from ashwoods bought and sown over several years, but this is my new house
that I've only had since September, so they were moved and appear to have survived,
but I've still got another 40 to move, and I haven't moved
any named snowdrops yet, the garden is full of nettles and weeds so it's taking time
to clear areas before I can plant. It's very damp soil, with a stream, the soil seems
quite forgiving, I've moved 20 camellias this week and I think they will recover,
fingers crossed.

[Jeffnz]

Relocating to a new garden is always a challenge as in many cases the old garden houses a collection of plants that have adapted to conditions and many do not thank us when we relocate them to a new garden. Suspect the camellias were of a good size so good to hear that have settled into their new home.
When we relocated I moved my hellebores in the middle of summer, not a smart thing as the temperatures at the time were low 30's degrees, Celsius that is. However we had to be out of the old home by a certain date and the new owners were not of a mind to allow us to return to remove the plants in autumn. Needless to say there were the inevitable casualties and many old favourites left behind..

[zephirine]

Hold on, Bernadette! I moved about 750 plants including a dozen hellebores (duly repotted all along the 6 previous months) in july 2005, and have only lost 2 or 3 of them (and no hellebore)! They were replanted in a damp clayish soil, and even if many took 2 to 3 years to recover completely, and it was very hard work to prepare them and keep them alive until the new garden was ready, I never regretted the effort!

Three of my (new) favourites this year:
- a dainty double from Ashwood



- a lovely red anemone centered, with lighter colour in the center, gradualy darkening to nearly black at the tip of  the petals, both inside and outside (the pictures don't do it full justice), from Delabroye origin,



- and a double "slaty blue", form Pepinière de la Thyle origin.

[Bernadette]

The new house is having work done on it so I've got several months
of still being able to take things from my old house before I put it up
for sale, to be honest I had so much crammed in there a lot of it needed
pulling up, as there wasn't room for them to grow to full size,
but there are so many things if I don't take I'll never come across them
again.  Plus things, like hellebores grown from seeds, until they've flowered
you can't be sure you've taken the most eye catching.

Last week I had some sleepers delivered  and I'm going to have a raised bed to
use as a temporary holding bay for things I'm not sure what to do with!

[Jeffnz]

You have 2 of my most liked double forms, picotee and slate blue.

[Brian Ellis]

Last week I had some sleepers delivered  and I'm going to have a raised bed to
use as a temporary holding bay for things I'm not sure what to do with!

...and snowdrops? 

[Roma]

A few hellebores flowering now

[Bernadette]

...and snowdrops? 

Sorry Brian only just read that, of course!

[Steve Garvie]

Don't tell her I said so but some of my wife's hellebores are not that bad looking:

[David Nicholson]

Don't tell her I said so but some of my wife's hellebores are not that bad looking:

They are undoubtedly very nice Steve but it has to be said that the photographer has made the very best of them.

[Maggi Young]

Many will be aware of  Judith Knott Tyler,  either from her book, mentioned earlier on this very page, or from her nursery  Pine Knot Farm  where she had great success, along with her husband Dick - who took all the photos for ther talks etc.  I'm sorry to bring the very  sad news that Judith has died.   - this from Dick and their family:

To All the Friends of Judith Knott Tyler,

Earlier this week Judith was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. It was impossible to treat, and earlier today Judy passed away. We know this will come as a shock to many people since most did not even know she was sick. What started two weeks ago as a case of pneumonia has led to a place none of us could have imagined.

Judy first went to the hospital for the pneumonia, and that’s when we learned of the existence of growths in her lungs. She came home to finish recovering before further tests would be done. Last weekend we had to take her back to the hospital for breathing difficulties. As she was being treated, she had a number of scans performed. It was Wednesday evening when we learned the nature of her cancer and that she only had days left. During the entire last week in the hospital, Judy was sedated. She felt no pain. Even amidst the chaos of the past few days, Judy died peacefully surrounded by family.

Judy touched many lives and her loss is felt by many. We are all joined in grieving for such a wonderful person. Over the next few days the family asks for some privacy. There will be a private Celebration of Life for Judy.

The Family of Judith Knott Tyler


Such very sad new.

[Jeffnz]

A shock to learn of Judith's death. I had many e mail conversations with her on hellebores a genus she was total fascinated by and had received seed gifts from the Tyler's. Her partnership with Dick was on an equal footing and while Dick focused on breeding it was Judith who spread the hellebore message.
 

[johnralphcarpenter]

The Helleborus x hybridus are pretty much at their best just now.

[David Nicholson]

Mine are well over Ralph.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Colder here, David.