Wednesday 23 December 2015

Colour In December

In 2013, I followed the late Geoff Hamilton's advice, visiting a nursery or garden centre each month of the year and purchasing a plant which was in flower. Doing this should now ensure that I have something blooming in my garden every month of the year.

I chose a hellebore for my December plant and picked up a small specimen from Leeds market for the princely sum of £2.45. It didn't increase in size much last year but just look at it now.


These photos were taken as the very beginning of the month when it was still in bud.


There were lots of buds at the base of the plant.


I don't know much about hellebores so I'm not sure which variety this is but it's lived up to the name on its label of Christmas Rose as it's flowered in time for the big day.


I definitely think this plant is one of my best buys, for such a small outlay it's done so well and certainly brightens up the border at the end of the year.


Wishing you all a very merry Christmas.

32 comments:

  1. That is good advice, I think I should try this, I love those Hellebores, Merry Christmas xx

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    1. It's great advice, it definitely works. Thank you, merry Christmas to you too.

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  2. It's beautiful.
    Merry Christmas Jo.

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    1. I'm very pleased with it. Thank you, merry Christmas to you too.

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  3. Lovely flowers, the Hellebores! I have managed to grow some from seeds I "liberated" from a garden I visited last June. (I'm not saying which...)Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year -- and please keep up the good work on this blog!

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    1. This plant is the only Hellebore I've grown but it's done really well this past year, it's more than doubled in size, in fact it was an extremely small specimen when I bought it. Thank you, sending best wishes for Christmas and the new year to you too.

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  4. Lovely. Thanks, and to you too. Flighty xx

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    1. It looks lovely in the border. Thank you.

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  5. It's pleasing that the hellebore has flourished and you have flowers this year in time for Christmas. It's a pretty variety. Merry Christmas Jo!

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    1. It didn't seem to do so well the first year I had it but it's come on really well this past year. Thank you, merry Christmas to you too.

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  6. I love hellebores, I inherited several in my garden and they cross germinate freely - you'll have lots soon!

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    1. They're lovely plants. I've never grown them before, not sure why.

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  7. They are such beautiful pristine flowers and yours was certainly good value for money. Season's Greetings to you Jo and I hope that 2016 treats you, Mick, the children and Archie most kindly. Happy growing too :)

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    1. I couldn't believe the price, they're usually quite expensive in garden centres. Thank you, wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for 2016.

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  8. What a bargain, and wow...hasn't it come along well? All the very best to you and yours Jo.xxx

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    1. It's done so well, I'm very pleased with it. Thank you, all the best to you and yours too.

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  9. I love Hellebores I have several different varieties. Where we used to live in Spain the grew wild in the forests.

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    1. I could do with more in my garden, they're such lovely plants.

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  10. What a bargain, it's doing beautifully. Such a great idea to buy something in flower each month, flowers are such a rare treat at this time of year. CJ xx

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    1. Plants in flower are thin on the ground in most garden centres at this time of year but I was glad to find the hellebore, such a lovely plant.

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  11. I have written a post about our Christmas rose which is in full flower now. It is waiting to be published and you have captured the title somewhere within your text. Its most unusual for the Christmas rose to flower before Christmas as it usually flowers a bit later. Wishing you a Happy Christmas.

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    1. It must be the warmer weather which is bringing plants on this year. Thank you, wishing you a happy Christmas too.

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  12. Just lovely, Jo. It feels wonderful when a garden purchase meets or exceeds our expectations. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

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    1. I really wasn't expecting this hellebore to do as well as it has, it was just a scrawny little thing when I bought it but it's done very well. Thank you, wishing a very merry Christmas to you and your family too.

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  13. I got them a couple of years ago and they're spreading very well.Merry Christmas, enjoy the season. Patsi

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    1. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too.

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  14. Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful Christmas. Sorry I have been so AWOL from all the blogs recently, been struggling to catch up with myself.

    Lovely Hellebore, so glad you have had such enjoyment from Geoff's advice.

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    1. Thank you. Wishing you, M and Daisy a wonderful Christmas too. I'm thrilled how Geoff's advice has worked so well in the garden, he certainly knew his stuff.

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  15. That is a lovely flower ...

    My good wishes at this very special time of year.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, sending all good wishes to you and yours too.

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  16. It is a really good way to fill your garden with colour all year round - the late great Geoff Hamilton had some cracking ideas! Good choice, that little hellebore slovenly!
    Happy new year and all the best for 2016!

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    1. Buying a plant in flower each month works really well to ensure the garden's filled with colour the whole year round. Thank you, happy new year to you too.

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