The Lenten Rose Almanac December 2010

We are about two months away from a Lenten Rose garden full of flowers. The gardens will be in full bloom in Feb/Mar. In Decembers video we have a look at the progress of the new foliage growth in contrast to the old growth which is beginning to decompose and lay over. I also take a moment to show you how I divided a large hellebore root ball into many new sprouts.

Where Your Lenten Rose Order Comes From

November 2010

This month we take a look at two schools of thought concerning the way you treat your mature Lenten Roses around this time of year. The first way is the Lawn Mower Method. Sometime in October, take a lawnmower and just mow them to the ground! A month later, around now, after a few good rains, nice clean growth will appear and usually plenty of it.

The second method is the do nothing, ala Natural Method. Just do nothing. The new growth morphs up as the old growth lays over and decomposes. The process takes months and months and in fact, never ends. On some plants in the garden, I can still see the decomposing leave & stem from last years turn.

Both schools work. Both schools are good. It just depends on your preferences. The manicured, clean bed look or the seasonal charm, ala natural. We love them both.

And if you can't reach them with a lawn mower........you can trim them by hand.

Lenten Rose Almanac October 2010

The beautiful shade perennial, hellebore Orientalis, commonly known as our hero, the Lenten Rose, prized by master gardeners throughout the world, in October, is putting up new growth as it begins the 'foliage phase' of a new perennial cycle. The hardy lush green ground cover of last years growth remains and continues to thrive even as the inevitable perennial clock ticks away at its' time left before laying over leaf and stem to compost, protect and nourish its fallen seeds. Perennial cycles cross fade slowly. The new growth with the old - ever so slowly.

We ship 'moisten bare root' all year round

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Lenten Rose Almanac for September 2010

The end of the Lenten Rose perennial cycle is cross fading with the beginning of the Lenten Rose perennial cycle. The stalks of the current foliage are leggy. The leafs are leathery. The serrates are sharp and prickly. The whole plant yells 'seasoned veteran'. The hardy lush green Lenten Rose ground cover we have enjoyed all summer is still standing its' post in our favorite shade perennial garden; and the last thing it will do as it ends its 2010 journey is begin anew. That's what I'm starting to see in September. New growth.

The hellebore Orientalis, commonly known as our hero the Lenten Rose, like all hellebores, begin their perennial cycle with a foliage phase. This is what we're seeing in September. This new growth will mature in the near months ahead and live on through the year to become the same foliage we see now. The second phase of the Lenten Rose perennial cycle (our favorite) is the flowering phase. In a few more months flower stalks and their support foliage will appear and then, we're in the thick of the new years growth.

.......more to follow.

Happy Gardening