Hellebores do synchronised swimming
I seem to have lost the ability to multi task. I could happily blog when it was too cold to do any gardening. Now that I’m outside in the garden I’m having trouble getting back into regular blogging. I’ve given myself a pep talk so I’m hoping that’s solved the problem.
I’ve embarked on my garden border spring clean. This involves a general tidy up, renewing plant labels if they have faded and digging up and moving plants that I squeezed into unsuitable spaces last year. Oh, and finding plants that I forgot I’d planted. Exciting times! The sun was shining and the bees were buzzing so I felt glad to be getting my hands dirty.
Bumble Bee on a Crocus
I find there is something deeply satisfying about removing weeds. I also took the opportunity to move pots containing Narcissi and Tulips from their winter storage spot to where they can get more sun. This little raised bed holds my Ginko biloba tree which I am attempting to prune heavily so that I can keep it in the garden. There are also Primulas, Crocus and Allium schubertii. The lower part of Ginko trunk is ringed with plastic netting to stop the cats shredding it and to support the self set Ipomoeas (Morning Glory) which will appear later on.
Tidy borders
Here is one of the trunk shredding cats (Georgie) walking alongside the Hellebore border. My Canna Lily on the left is still covered by straw and the protective structure I rigged up last year.
Hellebore border and Georgie
…….and here’s a close up of the synchronised swimming!
Hellebores do synchronised swimming
Floating them in water is the best way to fully appreciate the flowers. I do it only once each year then I leave the rest of the flowers to hang their heads as usual.
22 comments
Well, it’s better to be out gardening than in blogging about gardening, ultimately, right? Good for you for getting stuff done. Love your synchronized swimmers, they are truly lovely, so many colors and all so deep and rich. Your cat’s a cutie, even if naughty. I guess the squirrels aren’t as scared as the trees, huh? Did you make that edging for the gingko bed? It’s really cool!
Karen: The cats and the squirrels seem to have called a truce unfortunately. They just stare at each other (lol)
It seems as if there are not enough hours in the day at the moment – so much to do and time just disappears, but isn’t good to be out there getting your hands dirty again. I spotted the first bee of the year here today – a chubby little fellow visiting some snowdrops but camera not in reach – typical ! Love the hellebores – you have some beauties there.
Anna: I love to watch bees at work too!
How beautiful the hellebores are displayed in this manner. Your gingko appears to be fairly large. Have you posted on your pruning methods to keep it small? And how old is it?
Tina: As usual I have no method (lol). The Ginko is 26 years old. Once it reached a certain height I decided to keep it there. I can reach the top with a small ladder and I simply prune it to shape. I don’t know how long I can keep doing this but it is worth it as the tree is very beautiful in leaf!
Your synchronised swimmers are beautiful. Hellebores have such amazing colours, don’t they?
Victoria: Yes they do. I would like some of the newer varieties but I’m rather short of space at the moment!
It is hard to do it all! My husband is used to calling and asking, what he should bring home for dinner during garden season. The bee on the crocus is a wonderful photograph…that is spring! gail
Gail: Yes, once I see bees flying around I know spring has really got started. Luckily some of them stop occasionally so I can get a picture
A clever way to enjoy their little faces! I’m glad you are enjoying being out in the garden again.
Racquel: It is a relief to get outside again. I was getting a little stir crazy!
Floating those hellebore blooms is a wonderful idea! I only have one variety/color, however. I am going to have to get a larger hellebore collection–then I’ll try floating them. I understand the dilemma between gardening and blogging…although, I have only barely started to garden (we just had snow)… I find things in blog-land somewhat difficult to stay on top of as it is…but when gardening really takes a front seat, I’m not sure how I’m going to manage! Last year in the spring, I completely stopped blogging, until I took it up again in NOV. I didn’t belong to Blotanical then. Now I just can’t ‘stop’…I mean, well…you know!!!!
It’s a balance. It’s supposed to be pleasant, so do it as you can. I think everyone will be MIA on and off during the warmer months!
Jan: I agree with you about Blotanical. I’m more likely to try to keep blogging as well as gardening when I know there are other bloggers to “talk” to.
I know exactly what you mean about getting time to blog at this time of year – especially as the late spring and summer approach – so don’t beat yourself up too much ! I love that idea of floating the flowers as Helebores are just SO beautiful and it is as you say the best way to enjoy them – might even try this myself! Lovely photo of your Bumble and the crocus by the way…
Miranda: Yes the flowers look lovely like this. For once you can admire without kneeling down!
I’m having a hard time motivating myself for the spring cleanup. I think, however, that if I knew I’d find flowers doing a little synchronized swimming out there, I’d find it a lot more interesting!
Beautiful blooms indeed.
Susan: I was only motivated because the sun was shining!
I just love helebores. When I was in England I had quite a few different plants. Now I have not any. boo hoo. But your lovely photos cheered me up no end. Thanks for sharing.
Judith: Just think of all those lovely plants you can grow in Crete instead (lol)
Oh if only the days were twice as long. But then I suppose the To Do list would expand accordingly too.
Lovely idea for displaying your Hellebores.
VP: I would like a few steady months of warm sunny weather – then the To Do list could be done in comfort instead of rushing around when we get a few hours of sunshine!.
Easygardener, you have stunning synchronised swimmers! Must’ve been a great feeling getting back to gardening after all that snow and cold! The first pic is lovely too.
Those Hellebores deserve a medal – the color range is wonderful. I am so chomping at the bit to get out and garden, but the ground stubbornly remains frozen, and my Hellebores are still sleeping.
Isn’t garden clean up one of the most satisfying chores of the entire year? It feels so hopeful, like you’re kicking off the season, whether or not the weather’s ready to cooperate.
The hellebores look like a bowl of fruit salad with kiwi fruits in.
Very tempting.
Mary Sharpe
HUGH AND CAMELLIA
it’s not problem if you don’t have time to blogging now but you can take many many photos for us, so you can post these photos whenever you find time
Spring is here!
Love the Hellebores.
And the bee – what better evidence of the awakening of the garden into Spring than that photo?
Yes, floating the helleborus flowers is the best way to enjoy them inside…
Dear EG, thank you for the idea for the synchronized swimming. I will try it – I presume other flowers can do it too? (They could have a Floral Olympic Games. ) But I particularly wanted to comment on what you said about multi tasking. How can we garden, blog and still have a non horticultural non virtual life? This blogging business and also gardening – they’re for fun, not duty. How to do it all, enjoy and not get overwhelmed? What a challenge!!!!!!
cheers, catmint
I love all of the spring freshness of this post. The bumble looks like it’s really enjoying itself in the flower. The newly arisen plants, and bulbs by the Ginko tree look like they are taking advantage of the light, before it leafs out. I like the combination of bulbs and Helleborus in the spring border.
You up and about now then?
Dont quite know how I missed this post .. which is lovely – the post I mean, not me missing it.
Spring is in the air.
K
I displayed some hellebores in a blue glass bowl a few posts back. Honestly, I TOTALLY forgot that I’d seen that idea here on your post! I think I will add a link to your post from mine, as an addendum. Yours actually look much prettier than mine; you also have a larger variety! Since I left my last message here, I have acquired quite a few more…and they aren’t all floating in my bowl. (A lot of them don’t have flowers but will need to wait until next year. I bought them when they were done blooming.)
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