Monday 24 February 2014

A Hopefulness of Hellebores





A damp, chilly February morning. Grey and dreary.

I decided to try using the macro lens and I need all the practice I can get. So many photos were blurred and not worth keeping.

In a shady corner of the garden, beneath ash, hazel and conifer, a small group of hellebores is coming into flower. 

Most of them are Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten Hellebore, blooming just in time for Lent as they always do.

Only the green flower is from the Corsican Hellebore.

Is there a collective noun for a group of hellebores? If not, then a Hopefulness of Hellebores will work for me. Each unique flower, so beautifully, becomes a harbinger of spring.
































15 comments:

Morning's Minion said...

I am very covetous of your hellebores.
I've never thought I was in the correct climate for them to flourish, but each time I see a photo I'm reminded that I should at least read a bit more about the needs and preferences of such a lovely plant.

Robin Mac said...

Lovely pictures of hellebores - flowers which I love and cannot possibly grow here in the tropics. I think you are doing very well with your macro lens. I have been playing catchup with your previous posts, the flood photos look pretty, but it must be heartbreaking for the affected farmers. Cheers

SeagullSuzie said...

Beautiful plants, they are so lovely to see and makes me wish I had a few here.

Ragged Robin said...

The Hellebores are just beautiful - I wish we had some here but everytime I see them for sale at a nursery they are just extortionate! I love your idea for a collective name too :)

I think you are doing well with your macro lens - the results when I use mine are always very hit and miss.

Em Parkinson said...

You have some absolute beauties there. I'm very envious indeed! Lovely pics too.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

I've mixed feelings about hellebores. They look best when looked up at - which is a bit difficult when they grow on the ground!

Have I asked if you'd like to take part in Tree Following this year? I'm horribly inefficient and can't remember. Apologies if I have - but I don't want to risk missing you out - especially with a blog with a name like 'Where the Beechmast Falls'! In case I've already mentioned it, I'll not explain it here - but in the hope that you are interested, this is the link to more information about it on my blog. http://tinyurl.com/bv6pzt5

Lucy

Down by the sea said...

I always find hellebores so difficult to photpgraph. They never seem to show me their heads. Your pictures are wonderful. Sarah x

Mum said...

It's a shame that the hellebore flowers always seem to face downwards. Your close ups just show how beautiful they are.
Love from Mum
xx

Anonymous said...

Lovely Hellebores (I've just bought two for the garden here). Good for bees :-)

Louise said...

lovely photos.

Things and Thoughts said...

I'm glad to discover your wonderful world here! Hellebores are amazing but unfortunately, they don't exist in the area where I live.
Warm regards from me!

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Glad you will be Tree Following. I've added you to the list, saying you will be following a crab apple tree. If you decide on a different tree, that's fine; it's easily changed. First linky on 7th March!

http://tinyurl.com/bv6pzt5

Lucy

Doc said...

I love Hellebores and yours are quite stunning. I have ordered a lovely yellow one from a nursery and am waiting patiently….sort of.

Aril said...

I didn't know that you can get stripy crocuses- thanks for sharing your lovely photos!
Arilx

WOL said...

Assuming you could find something blooming here in TX, you'd have to use a really fast shutter speed because of the wind. Been a bit windy today