Tuesday, March 08, 2011

ABC Wednesday
March 9th, 2011

The letter this week is H


H stands for one of the loveliest and most welcome of perennial spring flowers - the Hellebore.  The Hellebore comes early, - if it is a Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) you may find it in your garden in January, but this year even the Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) is going to have to hurry along if it is going to bloom before Ash Wednesday!

Yesterday in the garden it was shy and unaccommodating - only the very tips of the promising, pregnant stubs pushing through the frozen ground.



and I had to hunt up last year's March pictures of this sweet and delicate bloom
some of them a little tattered and past their prime, but always beautiful











For more great interpretations of the letter H click here, at ABC Wednesday, with
thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt and her kind helpers.

24 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

The hellebore family are among my favourite flowers Hildred. There is such variety - right from the Christmas rose, through the Lenten rose and on into summer.

Cezar and Léia said...

How interesting, I like a lot this flower and I didn't know its name.I love your set of pictures, adorable!
Hellebores are beautiful!
Hugs
Léia

Lorac said...

Wonderful to see life coming from the ground! Nothing here but a tiny bit of tulip leave starting to show.

B i r g i t t a said...

Lovely flower and a great time when they appeare :)

Sylvia K said...

The Hellebore is gorgeous, I too, didn't know the name! Fantastic captures as always, Hildred! Great post for the H Day! Thanks for sharing the beauty! Enjoy your week!

Sylvia
ABC Team

Roger Owen Green said...

even past its prime, still lovely.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Kay L. Davies said...

H is for Hildred, and now Hildred's hellebores! How wonderful they're starting to come up already.
We've still got snow everywhere, but today's sunshine is getting a bit of a melt going!
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Chubskulit Rose said...

Great choice for letter H. Gorgeous shots.

Have a peek on my letter H, see you.

Anna said...

Oh the perfect choice for H :) A close run second to snowdrops when I think of my spring favourites. Over this side of the pond ours are late off the starting block too but all the more welcome.

Leslie: said...

I never knew its proper name, but always see them around and admire them.

Leslie
ABCW Team

photowannabe said...

So lovely and delicate. I hope your buds blossom soon.

Kim, USA said...

Oh wow it's so great to see beautiful plants trying to perk up to be seen it's beauty!
ABC Wednesday-H

Barb said...

You'll soon have your lovely Hellebore blooming, Hildred. Do the Forsythia have buds?

Tumblewords: said...

Love the photos! If there's any thing uncurling in my outdoors, it's covered by about a foot or more of snow and ice. Can't wait to see some color.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

lovely showcase.
you rock.

Hildred said...

Yes Barb, the forsythia have buds and I brought some sticks in last month which bloomed beautifully. Must go and gather more before the red winged blackbirds eat them all - the forsythia bush is next to the bird feeders, but I think they like the buds for dessert!

Rinkly Rimes said...

I envy you with the Spring flowers on their way. These are really delicate and I lobe the colour.

Reader Wil said...

Hildred, you are so great with flowers! This flower is a great choice for H!

Carver said...

Great choice and shots. The helleobore in my garden is blooming as I type.

Joy said...

A pretty plant, so welcome early in the year. They are wise not to stir too early this year.

Misfit in Paradise said...

Another flower I love to look at but seem unable to keep alive!
Donna - ABC Team

Unknown said...

hope this is the sign that spring is coming, nice shot

Say Hi to my Horse, my entry for H.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I'm guessing it didn't quite make it by yesterday! But maybe will still be blooming for Easter?

ChrisJ said...

The Christmas Rose is beautiful I have never seen one. We have
Christmas cactuses which can put on a beautiful show, but ours are getting too old and woody. Time to replace them.