Long live the Hellebores!

Living flower arrangements are a splendid way to bring nature inside. Planted in larger containers, nursery plants can be arranged in a beautiful, natural way. We love following the process of the plants growing and blooming each day.

When the plants reach their peak, many can be planted in the garden, where they can grow and flower for years. Today we are planting some plants from an arrangement we made back in mid-December, to see that post click on Amaryllis.

Another great feature of living arrangements is that they are ALIVE, this arrangement was beautiful and flowering for 2 months! After 8 weeks, the chartreuse hellebore’s are perky,

and a second Amaryllis has grown tall from each of the bulbs, striking poses that are quite statuesque.

But the plants are leggy and there aren’t any buds waiting to bloom. So, after months of bringing visions of green and white livelihood indoors, during the long cold winter, back to the earth these plants will now go.

After trimming away any dead foliage, we will tuck these plants into the Hellebore patch, located in a partially shaded bed in the courtyard. The Kalanchoes (succulents) should do nicely on the perimeter of the bed, where the eves will protect them from being over watered.

Hmmmm…this burst of green Hydrangea leaves pushing through the soil (previously potted indoors) served as a reminder of some other potted Hydrangeas, indoors, that may want a new lease on life.

Coincidentally, a friend brought over a lovely Hellebore, in a spunky bag, as a gift, how thoughtful, how timely. Look at those roots, this plant needs a larger landscape for sure!

So, here is what we have to plant,

and here they are, planted.

For now, the plants which were previously indoors will just add a layer of green to the verdant tapestry. In the years to come, their chartreuse star flowers will sing in harmony with their new neighbors, in the fragrant shadow of Daphne (please take a minute to read about Daphne by clicking on Winter’s Intoxicating Farewell, her fragrance has filled the courtyard and the market!)

We’ll be continue to enjoy Hellebores indoors as well, cut, and arranged in white glassybabies.

Florist tip: to help droopy flowers stay more upright in the container, make a criss-cross of scotch tape across the mouth of the vase, the flower stems can rest against the tape. Be sure to conceal the tape with the flowers.

Are you a Hellebore Hedonist? Take a visit to Santa Barbara and see the beautiful bouquet Slim Paley put together from her lush garden.

We’ll also be enjoyng the beauty of this double-flowered Amaryllis indoors, so flamboyant!

We’ve heard tales of Amaryllis blooming the following year, when planted in the garden. We haven’t had that experience, but we are trying again!

We try to keep our posts brief and pretty. If you would like more details or specifics, just ask, click on “comments” below, we’ll answer all of your questions.

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