Hellebores

The garden is still very bare, with hardly any green to be seen but then suddenly, early Spring (or late Winter?) there’s this very welcome sight of hellebores.

Every year, when I first spot them in the gardens, on photoshoots and when working with floral stylists, I always decide to plant more the following year. While I have a few beautiful ones in my own garden, as soon as early Spring is over and narcissi and tulips and blossoms start to appear, I quickly forget about hellebores. That is a shame as I know the following Spring I will wish I’d planted more. Just like the one here, I captured it in the hellebore-heaven-garden of Simply by Arrangement in Yorkshire. This must be my favourite of the year.

Freshyl picked hellebores are notoriously temperamental. Make sure you sear them or cut the stem. Any maybe even then they will droop) I also usually only pick them when they are almost over. I had one in a tiny vase for 4 weeks this Spring.

Hellebores grown by Simply by Arrangement, Yorkshire

Flowing hellebores reveal the real beauty of this charming early Spring flower. Here’s one bowl full of hellebores arranged - and grown of course - by Huw Morgan.

Huw Morgan, Hillside, Somerset

And more hellebores grown by Milli Proust and Rachel Siegfried. I took these images for their books, Milli’s is coming out very soon and Rachel’s will be out next year. They both grow stunning flowers, not just hellebores, and I’m so lucky to have been working with them.

Milli Proust, Sussex

Green and Gorgeous Flowers, Oxfordshire

If you - like me - want to grow more hellebores, Twelve Nunns Nursery is a great place to get them from.