Dear Hellebore, don’t you know this is September?

Published on by Catherine

It’s been a mixed week of weather again. We’ve had so much rain, blustery winds, a thunderstorm and just enough sun for everyone to get outdoors for short spells at a time. It’s been busy too. In this county, all schools were closed for three days due to a strike and I’m sure parents, grandparents and carers up and down the country must have been frantically trying to rearrange their week. My husband and I only had to reschedule two days though. Gardening was abandoned, but we still managed to spend time outdoors with the two grandchildren who were delighted to have this unexpected break from school.

I feel that we’re now settling into fairly normal Autumn weather patterns (though I’m seeing a couple of highs of 17C ahead), but in the garden, there is still some confusion among the plants. That of course brings me to the featured plant, the Hellebore.

But before going there, let’s take a look at the rest of this week’s selection for Six on Saturday.

Six on Saturday

Autumn Roses. This is Rosa ‘Bonica’, no stranger to this blog. It looks very healthy, particularly when you consider we’re going into October tomorrow. While many of the roses have a good number of buds, few of them have untarnished leaves and buds as healthy-looking as this.

Rosa Bonica in late September

Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’. Gertrude has fewer buds than Bonica but I’m impressed with the unnibbled, blackspot and rust-free leaves.

Rosa Gertrude Jekyll in late September

Fuchsia. I lost all of my Fuchsias last winter and all but one went into the compost bin. This is the one that was left for dead in a border. I can’t remember my reason for ignoring it, I know I scratched the base of one branch and it appeared to be brown, a sign that it had died off. But all spring and summer it remained in the border without a bud or a leaf on its twiggy little branches. A couple of days ago I was clearing away some old foliage, and there it was, complete with leaves, a single flower and two buds. Nature produces its own little miracles I guess. Nice to see your recovery little fuchsia, I hope you make it through the coming winter too. I’ll give you a feed, a mulch and then let you do your own thing because I’ve learned that you’re more knowledgeable about your health than I am!

The Fuchsia given up for dead

Alchemilla Mollis. When my two oldest grandsons visited in August, they did a few jobs around the garden for me. I handed my oldest grandson my Easy Shear and set him to work cutting back the two large Alchemilla Mollis plants. He thought it a bit strange to cut all the leaves off and queried the instructions a couple of times to make sure he was understanding correctly, but then he did as I asked and cut the plants right back. I assured him that the plants would quickly grow new leaves. I knew that because Monty had said so the previous week on Gardeners’ World! I can’t give Monty all the credit though – I cut them back every year at that time but I do often need a reminder. So, thanks, Monty!

And here we are, just a few weeks on, with fresh, healthy leaves covering the plant again. The leaves will, of course, turn brown as they fade in the winter chill, but if we get a good frost those same leaves will look gorgeous in their frosty coat.

Alchemilla Mollis

Calendula ‘Sherbet Fizz’. I sowed a few calendula seeds at the end of August to try to get a head start with some garden colour next year. I have more pots of ‘Sherbet Fizz’ and ‘Snow Princess’ that are growing well, but Calendula ‘Orange Flash’, which I sowed a week later, hasn’t so far germinated.

Calendula ‘Sherbet Fizz’ – just babies

Hellebores. Let’s wrap up this week’s six with the subject of the day – the hellebore that’s awfully mistaken in its belief it should be flowering right now. I photographed it for a previous Six at the beginning of September, but I’d noticed it flowering a few weeks before that, so it’s safe to say that it started flowering during August. I thought it would produce only one or two flowers, then realise its mistake and go back to sleep for a few months. But it appears to be more determined than I gave it credit for and continues to flower. I’m now waiting to see how many flowers it will produce, and whether it will continue to bloom throughout its normal flowering time of December – March.

Meantime I’ll remove some of those tatty leaves, mulch and feed it…then hope for the best. I’m cheering it on! I wish it would thank me though by facing towards me as I can’t get into the side of this border to photograph the flowers as well as I’d like to!

Helleborus, confused

But look! It’s not alone – a second hellebore is flowering. As autumn progresses into winter and more flowering plants in the borders die back, I hope it will provide some much-needed floral interest. Please note – it’s facing the wrong way too!

Another early arrival.

Six on Saturday is hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. Pop over there and you’ll meet up with many more like-minded folks who love to garden.

Have a fabulous weekend! If you’re outdoors preparing your garden for the months ahead, perhaps planting up spring-flowering bulbs, I hope the weather is kind to you. Enjoy yourself, whatever you choose to do.

24 thoughts on “Dear Hellebore, don’t you know this is September?”

  2. I’m very surprised to see the hellebores flowers in bloom now! But with climate change, now you have to expect anything. Nice set presented this week, especially the fuchsia. For mine, I put a mulch of grass clippings and pine needles on the ground ( 20 cm thick). All the stems burn in winter, but they grow back in spring.

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  4. Your hellebore is amazing, I’ve looked at mine but no flowers so far this autumn. Your grandsons did well cutting back the alchemilla, they look so neat and tidy now! Like the roses too!

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  5. I love that you got your grandson involved with the cutting back! I lost my beloved snowcap fuchsia which I was so sad about. It’s in a pot and I did the scratch test and it was completely dead.

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    1. All my grandchildren get to help out in the garden when they visit. I think it’s a great learning experience that I hope they’ll remember many years from now when they have gardens of their own.
      Sorry to hear about your fuchsia – the snowcap fuchsia is a beauty. Perhaps you can replace it next year?

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      1. It’s a wonderful learning experience for them and I’m sure they will be able to apply their skills and knowledge developed in the future. My mum and dad used to grow all sorts of fruit and veg when I was a child and many different types of flowers and plants. They both still love their garden but it’s hard work now they’re getting on.
        The snowcap was from Harrogate flower show and has lasted a good few years. Definitely going to source another one next year.

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        1. My dad did all the gardening and, like your parents, he grew fruit and veg. Mum started a new garden in a new house after he passed away and she grew to love it too. I find the garden a calming space when things get a bit too hectic.

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    1. I think it’s more of a nuisance to have them in bloom right now, Graeme, as it might affect how well they bloom at the end of the year. I guess it’s a case of wait-and-see. 😐

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  9. Interesting to see your hellebore produce so many flowers at this time of year Catherine. I’ve had the odd one or two unseasonal hellebore flowers in the past but nothing untoward this year.’ Bonica’ looks a most beautiful and healthy rose. I wish that I had grandchildren to lend me a hand in the garden 😂 They did a good job 👏🏻

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    1. They all get little jobs to help out when they’re here, Anna, it’s good training for them. I’m still trying to train my husband in the art of gardening! That’s proving a harder task! 😂

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  11. I’m so happy for your tough little fuchsia! Hope that your hellebores give you a nice long show. I really should get some for the garden as well, the last time we had one was years ago and it was a pot from the sale shelf so it didn’t last long.

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