Cheerfulness has been in short supply but I detect an upsurge coming our way. Last week I was desperate for six wonders from the garden. This week I feel more positive. Heavy snow is forecast for tomorrow but I am sure it will be rain. The garden is truly on the move and the signs of new growth are everywhere. I pruned another four rose bushes and only have three more to do. The goldfinches have reappeared, feasting on the verbena bonariensis seeds. I also spotted them enjoying some seed heads of lavender that had escaped a cut back. The hellebores are looking lovely and the 300 snowdrops I planted in the north facing border are shyly stepping out. Here’s this week’s six.
One
Helleborus hybridus, every so slightly ahead of their February flowering and looking just perfect from above.
Two
Hellebore ‘Happy Day’. The first hellebore to self seed in the garden, choosing a crack on the edge of some paving to establish itself. Looks inhospitable to me and I might intervene and move it to a more generous spot in spring.
Three
Hellebores again. I love the deep colour of ‘Pretty Ellen Red’ in its double form. I’d love these to self seed to, but not so far and I always miss the point when the seeds develop. More vigilance required.
Four
The melica is on the move, melica altissima ‘Alba’. This really cheered me up, memories of floaty seed heads swaying in summer breezes, I can’t wait.
Five
A little variegated variety from a cyclamen of some sort. Hastily purchased, label forgotten but its really striking leaves by the front door always catch my eye.
Six
The fat buds of clematis ‘Apple Blossom’. An evergreen clematis from the amandii group. It flowers in the leaf axils of the previous year’s growth and as it has been in the garden now for two years there are a good deal more of those axils to bear beautiful flowers in late February.
Yes, we can do this. There’s the chill of February to get through but the March surge is on its way. Mr P continues to channel humour and sartorial gardening elegance (past few weeks) and is hosting his way through another volume of the SOS posts with his usual panache. Don’t miss out!
n20gardener 
A veritable hellebore bonanza (I don’t blame you). Lucky you for having goldfinches visiting the garden. I see them occasionally round and about, but they’re never regular visitors.
The cyclamen’s rather nice too!
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Oh, my! If I had flowers in my gardens right now, I’d be far more than cheerful. I’d be over the moon! Patience required here for weeks to come…Love your photos. They do give me hope!
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It’s all there bubbling underneath the earth! So lovely when the new growth arrives… I hope it’s not too long for you.
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Love the little cyclamen, stunning leaves – and the gorgeous hellebores of course – mine just coming into flower in Edinburgh I’m glad to see.
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I love the colour of the double hellebore and the patterning of the leaves on the cyclamen. Both fantastic. In future, all cyclamen that I buy will only make their way into my trolley if they have fabulous leaf markings!
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The leaf patterns are an extra bonus, wish I could remember/work out which type it is.
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I do like the third hellebore ( ‘Pretty Ellen Red’ ) : what a beautiful deep colour !
and what the leaves of cyclamen are elegant. The photo is very successful, it gives the impression that the leaves are so big
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Pretty Ellen is a lovely dark colour, recommended.
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Very cheerful indeed! Love the variegated cyclamen by the door!
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Snap! I also featured the buds of Clematis A Apple Blossom, aren’t they so full of promise? Mine is also a couple of years old. Pretty Ellen Red is very good-looking, such a deep, dusky colour.
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The hellebores red, is stunning. I keep meaning to buy one but can’t get to a garden centre at the moment. I have learned only to buy plants when they are in flower. I have been caught out. too many times
The cyclamen leaves are eye-catching, even without the flowers
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That is so true, a terracotta achillea turned out to be yellow last year. And was not what I wanted.
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I gotta get me some cyclamen! I grew common florist cyclamen as perennials when I was a kid, so took a dislike to them as very expensive annuals. Then, I learned about Cyclamen hederifolia and Cyclamen coum, with more subdued ‘woodsy’ bloom. Not only are they not so garish, but no one seems to be surprised that they grow as perennials. A neighbor has too many, so I will get a few.
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Always lovely to get some from neighbours
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YES! It makes them special.
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300 snowdrops?! Well done. The variegated cyclamen is a huge success. So much lovely detail hand painted onto each leaf. The apple blossom clematis is on a list of future acquisitions for me; I find the blossoms to be simple and elegant. Looking forward to seeing it in its full glory.
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The snowdrops were hard work and it doesn’t look like I’ll get 300! It was such a wet planting time last year.
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All your hellebores are lovely but I agree with others that pretty Ellen red is particularly special!
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Beautiful Hellebores. I used to try to save the seed but now leave them to do it themselves. I’ve not had a really stunning self seeder though
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I often think it would be easier to leave them to it, but I’d like to have a go!!
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Pretty Red Ellen is a glorious colour and stands so straight above the ground. Beautiful! I love the Cyclamen leaves too, they are almost as eyecatching as the flowers.
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All covered in snow today! I must visit your pages for some sun 🌞
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A beautiful, uplifting article, a chara.
Self-seeking hellebores are a joy! I’ve got gravel ground cover around mine and it’s an ideal breeding ground.
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