Flowering now in the garden is one of the rarest of the lenten rose hybrids, Helleborus x belcheri ‘Pink Ice’. This cross of the European Helleborus niger and the Chinese Helleborus thibetanus, was developed by Kevin Belcher at the UK’s Ashwood Nurseries. Since Helleborus thibetanus has been a miserable failure in our hot summer climates,
Belching in the Winter Garden Read More »
While most gardeners are familiar with hybrid hellebores, those all originated with wild species. Although most lenten rose species are far less showy than their hybrid counterparts, there are some that are pretty nice in their own right. Once of these is Helleborus purpurescens, the source of much of the purple color in the Helleborus
Lenten Rose Purp Pose Read More »
Flowering now in the garden is Daphne odora ‘Wild Winter’. This patterned leaf form was named and introduced by NC Nurseryman, Jason Stevens. The flowers are the same, super fragrant type of typical Daphne odora, which hails from Southern China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. In cultivation, good drainage is the key to success.
The Scent of a Wild Winter Read More »
In 1995, when we named our Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Snow Cream’, few people had even heard of the plant genus, Edgeworthia. Thirty one years later, people are actually visiting the garden and asking about it by name. It is always a favorite during our Winter Open Nursery & Garden weekends when it is in full flower
Time to Enjoy Snow Cream Read More »
Looking good in the garden this week, are two of the Ice N’ Roses’, sterile lenten rose hybrids. Helleborus x glandorfensis ‘Ice N’ Roses Rose’ (top), and ‘Rosado’ (below). Because of the Helleborus niger parentage, all flowers face outward. Mark your calendar to visit the gardens during our Winter Open Nursery and Garden weekends, Feb.
Helleborus foetidus ‘Red Silver’ is looking great in the late winter garden. Not only is the evergreen foliage great, but the flowers have a lovely ring of lipstick on each flower tip. This European species thrives in both open shade and half day full sun, as long as the drainage is good.
Red Silver Bear’s Claw Read More »
Of the 2,500+ named cultivars of Galanthus (snowdrops), only a small percentage have yellow ovaries. This trait was first noticed in 1974, with the discovery of Galanthus ‘Wendy’s Gold’, and since that time, gold has become one of the most highly prized traits in snowdrops. Although we have a relative small collection of 72 snowdrop
There’s Gold in them Snowdrops Read More »
About five years ago, we picked up this fascinating crinkled leaf form of Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna in the UK. Both the leaves and form are different from any other forms of sweet box we’ve grown. Since it didn’t have a valid cultivar name, we’ve christened it Sarcococca ‘Chris Crinkle’. It’s looking quite nice here
Chris Crinkle’s Sweet Gift Box Read More »
We know it’s time to start thinking of spring when the Atlas Mountain native, Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii, bursts into flower, here in late January. Nights in the teens F are no match for this amazing bulb.
Cold-blooded Narcissist Read More »
Last year, we posted a garden photo of the amazing new Galanthus ‘Mt. Everest’, which came to us as a Galanthus elwesii selection from Holland. We now think it is most likely a hybrid between Galanthus elwesii and Galanthus plicatus, first prompted by the assessment from Patrick McMillan. Below is it in full glory, starting
Mt. Everest – an easy Garden Climb Read More »
