As previously reported, I discovered recently that some damage had been inflicted to the heirloom hellebores growing in the Homestead wooded gardens. Over the summer John waged rather aggressive chemical warfare against the Japanese anemones, which were spreading pretty much everywhere around the gardens. I'd cautioned him to be careful, but you know how that one goes. He is his father's son. And those anemones, sneaky, invasive buggers that they are, seemed to have used the hellebores as "floral shields." As a result, we just don't have the big groups of hellebores growing and flowering now where we've had them for years and years. Hopefully the survivors will self-seed and they will eventually return in numbers.
Fortunately the ones I'd planted in the newer gardens at our house were far away from the battleground. These are newer hybrid types, including one named "Princess Rosemary."
John's mum was named Rosemary, so I thought we needed to have this one in the gardens. She's flowered for the first time this winter, much appreciated given the hellebore shortage we're facing! The blossoms are quite large, and the colour a bit unusual.
Yes, Rosemary saves the day.
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