Our Pacific Northwest weather is turning toward drippy at last after a very dry summer. The plants look refreshed already. I’m joining other garden bloggers today in sharing six things going on in our garden. Thanks go to The Propagator who hosts this weekly feast for the eyes.
ONE, TWO and THREE — I took a nice jaunt down our Olympic Peninsula earlier this week to Whitney Gardens, a fabulous nursery that features acres of rhododendrons. Some of my purchases were three, special Helleborus orientalis. I’m thinking ahead to the joy they’ll bring us during those long, dark late-winter and early-spring days. I grow hellebores along the north side of our home. Below are the three I just purchased in 1-gallon pots, awaiting planting, next to hostas that grow to cover hellebores and dicentra here.
Here’s the same area in March 2017 with some hellebores in bloom. (Hostas hadn’t begun growing yet.)
My new three are frilly pinks. ‘Peppermint Ice’ is from the Winter Jewels series created in the Pacific Northwest by hybridizers Marietta and Ernie O’Byrne at their home and nursery in Eugene, Oregon. Their website: https://northwestgardennursery.com.
‘Berry Swirl’ is another beauty from the Winter Jewels series.
‘Flower Girl’ is from the Wedding Party series by hybridizer Hans Hansen from Michigan. He has come up with some frilly, gorgeous blooms, and I’m a fan! ‘Wedding Crasher’ and ‘Dashing Groomsman’ are two of the other amusing names from this series.
FOUR – In the morning sun, these Japanese anemones were swaying and looking particularly lovely yesterday. I guess this post is just filled with all kinds of pink fun.
FIVE – The pleasure of collecting eggs from the chickens never gets old. I’m amazed at the quantities they continue to produce and have learned to mix and freeze eggs for the less abundant months ahead. The smallish, deeper brown eggs are from our new Rhode Island Red hens.
SIX – And since I had a very pink thing going earlier, I’ll finish with this Alcea rosea or Halo Blush hollyhock I started from seed this year. A few of these tall plants continue to bloom in the center of the perennial beds.
Gardens at Coppertop 
Superb choice of Hellebores March! It makes me want to buy more ..I only grow 2, but winter coming, it might be nice to add more
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The newer varieties are so tempting!
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Hollyhocks that bloom the first year? That’s a definite wow for me. Love those hellebores – wonder if they’re available in the UK. And how do you freeze eggs? That’s amazing.
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These are the single hollyhocks, Alcea rosea, but I’ve had lots of luck with them blooming year one. To freeze eggs, gently scramble (avoid mixing in too much air) and freeze in containers that hold any quantity, label, then freeze. They’re best used in baked goods, quiches, etc.
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Always interesting to see plants from a different season. Very pretty “pinks”.
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Thank you, Granny. Pinks are very cheerful.
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I love all your pink flowers. Your hellebores are exquisite. I have only very basic varieties and have never really seen any this pretty offered at our local nurseries.
Your eggs remind me of my days of having chickens that I still miss. They are the most unique and entertaining of animals and a pleasure to have.
Glad you are getting some rain. We’ve had more than usual this year and 5 inches just last weekend, courtesy of tropical storm Gordon. More rain forecasted for Monday as hurricane Florence works her way inland and up the coast. That always amazes me that they can reach as far inland as Ohio, and makes my heart ache for those who are taking the direct hit.
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Cindy, your rain sounds like a deluge, but you’re right about perspective and gratefulness. Pink flowers and chickens — what’s there to complain about!?
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Pink is pretty during all seasons. I didn’t know you could freeze eggs. I am curious about the process.
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Gently scramble to avoid adding too much air, label quantities well in any food safe containers, then once frozen, defrost in fridge and beat well to use in any baked goods, quiches, etc. 🙂 The texture isn’t quite as creamy/smooth as fresh, but that’s not noticeable once baked.
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I have gone off Hellebores for some reason. I think it is because I spent a lot of money on them last year and a couple hasn’t survived. That Hollyhock is wonderful.
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That’s disappointing about your hellebores, and they can be pricey. I don’t blame you.
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Hellebores and anemones are two of my favorites! I grow the hellebores and my neighbor has enough anemones they spill over into my garden! A Twofor!
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Yes! Two of my favorites as well, and such early bloomers. Thanks for the visit!
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Your hellebores are so lovely, reminding me to buy one or two colourful ones for my shady border, and I am envious of the lovely condition of your hostas. Mine is shredded to pieces now courtesy of the snails 😦
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I love the many choices offered now in hellebores, Have fun choosing, Jude! The hostas thrive in that spot. Perhaps our slugs don’t like the gravel there. I have plans to dig and divide to share them with friends and our plant sale, but I really hate to mess them up. Normally I’d wait until spring, but they need time to settle in pots before the May plant sale so it’s a major undertaking soon.
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They do look lovely.
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I wanted hellebores last winter but they are so expensive. I tried to grow from seed but no joy. Sigh. I might have to put my hand in my pocket. I need some winter colour.
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Now is the time to choose and plant, before they’re picked over or sold out…
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My very first Japanese anemone bloomed! It was pink too. I was expecting white! The pink is nice, and will not going anywhere, but I am now determined to procure a white one.
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I favor the whites as well. My new ones out front haven’t bloomed their first year from small roots, but have plenty of foliage.
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It is one of those flowers that look so refined in other people’s gardens, but NOT mine! . . . yet.
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Those hellebores are just beautiful, but one plant I think I’ll have to go without for now, as I don’t have enough shade. Same with the Japanese anemones. I’ll just enjoy yours!
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Thank you, Jane. We all should know our garden’s limits, but I often push mine. Slowly I’ve learned echinacea and a few others just won’t thrive here.
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Those hostas look immaculate and completely unnibbled. Lovely photos, especially the basket of eggs with their different colours.
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The eggs feel like daily gifts to us.
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The Hellebores are gorgeous! I must buy one or two of the new ones. I’ve quite a few but they’re mostly selected self seeders
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Self seeders are great. These new ones won’t be spreading, I don’t think.
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Gorgeous. What a great idea to plant something like that next to the hosta, which come up later.
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Hi Cynthia! Yes, the original owners layered many shade-loving plants here so that something nice is continually featured. I’m grateful.
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You’re inspiring me to step up my game by looking for some new hellebores. Those are beyond lovely!
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They do make me happy with their charming ruffles. Good luck in your hunting, Eliza!
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I love your north border. Do you leave the hellebores and hostas in the ground at the same time and just wait for them to do their thing?
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Exactly, and it works!
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