Reliable primulas and winter pansies never disappoint. Covered by snow (which was missing this year) or attacked by slugs, they manage to survive and brighten grey winter days with their cheerful blooms. My primulas grow in shade near the house wall. The pansy shown in the collage appeared from nowhere near the driveway. The place is sunny, but two plants chose the spot behind the lightpost protected from the sun. The Flowering Kale in individual containers is doing better than last year when it turned to mush after being under the snow for a long time.
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Tree peony buds (the center of the collage below) look very impressive. They scream: Spring is coming!
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Top left is a young leaf of a Honeysuckle Dropmore Scarlet. Hellebores foetidus is a pleasure to have in the garden. Light-green buds and blooms create lovely spots in the garden during December and January. The Hellebore shown on the bottom of the collage is in full bloom now.
A hellebore flower somehow reminds me of a young bride's innocent face with cute freckles.
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Tree peony buds (the center of the collage below) look very impressive. They scream: Spring is coming!
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Top left is a young leaf of a Honeysuckle Dropmore Scarlet. Hellebores foetidus is a pleasure to have in the garden. Light-green buds and blooms create lovely spots in the garden during December and January. The Hellebore shown on the bottom of the collage is in full bloom now.
A hellebore flower somehow reminds me of a young bride's innocent face with cute freckles.
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This particular plant is 5 years old and doing great in a semi-shady area close to the house.
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This particular plant is 5 years old and doing great in a semi-shady area close to the house.
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Last fall, I dug out several baby plants and planted them in different parts of the garden.
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These beautiful Hellebore blooms are for my Dad, Alexey, who left us 7 years ago, on the 29th of January. I miss you, Daddy.
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Last fall, I dug out several baby plants and planted them in different parts of the garden.
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These beautiful Hellebore blooms are for my Dad, Alexey, who left us 7 years ago, on the 29th of January. I miss you, Daddy.
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Copyright 2010 TatyanaS
What beautiful colors in your winter garden Tatyana! I'm a relative newbie to hellebores, but quickly getting addicted to them. Yours are gorgeous, and a lovely tribute to your dad.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely buds and flowers. Hellebores are Wunderbar! Sorry for the loss of your Dad.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos/collages here. Don't think Hellebore will grow here??? Do you know? How sweet to post a flower in honor of your Dad's memory...I know he is smiling down on you!
ReplyDeleteOh, Tatyana, these are just sooo beautiful. I have buds on my hellebore but I've buried them in evergreens as if I leave them bare, they'll be mush before they turn to flowers. I'll see them in a couple months.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your Dad Alexey too, Tatyana. My fad left us in June 2005 and I miss him too. Hugs to you across the continent.
What a sweet remembrance post Tatyana! It is always hard to lose our parents... I have read for some it takes seven years to feel more normal again... not that one must darkly dwell on a loss or that we ever forget ... for they remain in our hearts always... and in our flower memories.;>) So many treasured simple things that bring to mind past loved ones. We always miss the hugs. Sending one your way too. I miss my Daddy too.
ReplyDeleteCan this really be your January garden??? How beautiful!! I will not see any of these buds or blooms for months! Can you please make a short list of the minuses of living in your area? Lovely photos!!
Thanks for brightening my day with your lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteYour primulas sure bright a bright spot to a winter bed. How pretty. Your hellebore is so pretty. I am hoping to get a bloom this year on my baby ones. We daughters always miss are dads so it is a wonderful tribute to remember him.
ReplyDeleteThe primulas are such a happy burst of color so early in spring. I planted a Mom Garden, after her passing. It began with plants I rescued from her property. I do feel close to her when I'm out there tending her peonies. Wonderful post, Tatyana.
ReplyDeleteI love hellebores and what a beautiful tribute to your dad. The pansies and primroses really brightened my day, thanks! Still white with snow, my garden is nowhere near having buds on any spring flowering shrubs. I'll get to enjoy spring twice...when it finally arrives here; and watching all the spring photos from my garden blog friends!!
ReplyDeleteOh to have such beauty in January! Zone envy, for sure! Hellebores are some of my very favorites and yours are gorgeous. *hugs* on this bittersweet day of missing your dad.
ReplyDeleteHellebores are such a nice sight this time of year, I'm always so happy to see them. You have some very pretty ones. They seem like the perfect flower to remind you of your father.
ReplyDeleteI love hellebores, but they just will not grow here! Peonies is one flower I am itching to try! Maybe they will do better for me
ReplyDeleteI love it! Can you amagine how I long for all that snow we have to go away!
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice that you see signs of spring and plant life in JANUARY! Here it is a frozen tundra until about mid April and sometimes even May.
ReplyDeleteNice tribute to your dad, too.
Beautiful photos and tribute to your dad. I like the freckles, too. Although they remind me of my nephew instead of a bride :)
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you lost your father Tatyana. It is a very lovely rememberance of him that you have chosen. Very beautiful and moving.
ReplyDeleteMy garden is acting very much as though it expects spring any minute now and while I am more than happy to get on board with the idea I do wonder if we will get another cold snap before it's all over. Here's to hoping our eager buds are right.
It is great to see signs of spring, and I too, remember my own dad when I see certain plants. He died a few years ago, and loved to garden.
ReplyDeleteMy friend gave me a small tree then in honor of him, so I really enjoy nurturing that tree :)
Dear Tatyana, Such joyous pictures which give us all heart for today and hope for the future.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe that we saw crocus when we were walking out today.
ReplyDeleteJen
The hellebores are beautiful. I have never seen them before and I love the freckles. Nice gift and tribute to your Dad.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have so much activity in your garden Tatyana, it's lovely to see spring blooms and new growth. :) Rebecca
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post T...super gorgeous mosaics and photos! Lovely tribute to your Father..HUgs!
ReplyDeleteKiki~
Танечка, думаю, папа оттуда радуется своей дочери и этому прекрасному цвету. Грустная дата. Я сегодня тоже вспоминал своих родителей - надеюсь, что и я их не разочаровываю. А сегодня и у них и у меня есть повод думать друг о друге - мне стукнуло 43, и я, конечно же, не мог не заглянуть к тебе - а у тебя уже весна, примулки и анютины глазки цветут - такая нега по сердцу, тем более, что у нас за окошком почти минус 30 и ждать ещё первых цветочков месяца три - эххх. Вдохну пока твоей весны - спасибо тебе, спасибо, что даришь здесь столько хороших эмоций!
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyna, the collage is beautiful. I noticed buds opening today on my hellebores for the first time. I am trying to establish them as a ground cover in one area, and I am happy they are now producing babies! Next week will two years since my own dad passed away. Memories are strong. You are in my thoughts today.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought this might be a 'rainbow' post, like the ones linking to Rebecca's...the colors are so gorgeous. Love your hellebores...beautiful! Lovely, sweet tribute to your dad:) Did he garden, or enjoy gardens? He would be honored. Don't forget to visit & participate in my sustainable living project & giveaway! Jan
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and collages, and a touching tribute Tatyana. The tree peony buds are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are a beautiful tribute to your father Tatyana.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana~~ Those little pansies like to seed themselves around. I love the serendipity of it. Nice, big clumps of hellebores. You're doing something right. I should check my Mondo Grass for berries. Yes, our treasures are starting to stretch and yawn to a new season. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteA lovely tribute to your dad. I always plant pansies in my winter baskets as they bounce back so well no matter what the weather throws at them.
ReplyDeletealoha tatyana,
ReplyDeletethat was a lovely post filled with aloha, a breath of fresh air!
Tatyana ! I am such a big hellebore fan too : ) That was a lovely tribute for your dad : )
ReplyDeleteYou have so many signs of Spring and I am jealous ;-) we will be stuck in winter mode another full 6 to 8 weeks .. meanwhile I will have to come back many times to get a breath of fresh air here !
Did you get the Wolf Moon last night ? I caught a couple of pictures and hope to see it again this evening : ) It was amazing !
Joy
Love your primroses, buds, and kale. It helps somehow to keep our spirits attuned to spring around the bend.
ReplyDeleteThe whimsical metaphor of a pristine hellebore blossom as bride with freckles is too lovely. :)
I'm so sorry for your loss, Tatyana.
If it's looking that much like spring there ~ then it can't be much longer till it arrives here, right? At least I hope so! I would love to find a tree peony this year. I remember seeing some beautiful ones on blogs last year. I didn't realize it came out so early?? All the gorgeous blooms you have amaze me. It's just a lot of brown and white in my garden.
ReplyDeleteI just love Primulas. They remind me of our trip to Ireland years ago in the winter. Primulas were planted everywhere and brightened the winter landscape.
ReplyDeleteTatyana, how nice to remember your dad. My dad died 18 years ago mid-Feb. and it still is sad at times. I am sorry he missed seeing all his grandchildren grow up to be such fine young adults.
ReplyDeleteAs always your photos are super...I look forward to having Hellebores in our new garden.
It's wonderful to see all these lovely blooms in January! Pansies don't make it through our cold winters, but the primulas have been a pleasant surprise to me. They go dormant in my garden in the winter, but they're one of the first to bloom in the spring and the last to die out in the fall. Your hellebores are beautiful and a wonderful way to remember your father.
ReplyDeleteStunning array of color and beautiful photos, Tatyana! Still quite a while before we see anything here half as handsome. You are truly blessed and so was your father :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely tribute to your Dad! I love the hellebores. I'm seeing so many posted these days on blogs and don't have one... I've got to get one to plant so next year I can see it bloom in late winter/early spring.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your Dad. January 29 will never be an easy day for you.
ReplyDeleteYOur helebores are so pretty. I am going to try those this year because everyone goes on about them.
Great color palette, looks like spring is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteThose are real beautiful treasures. I love those you call Hellebores, whatever they look like in real life, they certainly are beauties in your photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful offerings for January, Tatyana. And, such a lovely tribute to your father. The Hellebore blooms look so fresh and clean - truly the epitome of spring. :)
ReplyDeleteTatyana, I am so glad I stopped by...what a treat your January flowers/plants are~~We are covered with snow and the usual suspects are hiding for now! It will melt soon!
ReplyDeleteWe never stop missing our parents~I think about my mom every day. I planted a flowering witch hazel for her.
Gail
I agree with you, too. The pansy of the winter has vitality very much.
ReplyDeleteYour pansy shows deep colors to me.
Thank you for guiding your wonderful garden.
Your blossoms are definitely shouting spring. I just love seeing Hellebore blooms. And witch hazel is fascinating. I can't grow a lot of what northern gardener's can, so it's always a delight to see pictures.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your Dad would love your gardens and this sweet tribute to him.
FlowerLady
What a beautiful plant to remember your father with.
ReplyDeleteI really should grow helebores.