Friday, January 6, 2012

A Great Disappointment

Helleborus niger
Greetings from the State of Insomnia. I just can't seem to shift off holiday schedule, but the unseasonably warm weather has called me outside anyway. While it appears that the first snowdrop is in bloom (it's difficult to tell when it's been so cloudy), the Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) most obviously are not. I was hoping for some precocious activity, but on closer inspection, it appears there may be no blooms at all this year.

Something is very wrong with this picture. Here's what it's supposed to look like at this point.
December 31, 2010
I suspected something might be wrong with them last spring,
April 2011

but then promptly forgot to do anything about it. I suppose I'll just look on this as an opportunity to try a different hellebore in this space. 

11 comments:

Darla said...

I know nothing of the hellebore....so sorry you are disappointed.

scottweberpdx said...

Boo :-( You're right though...this is your chance to find an even better one...and one that might be happier.

Indie said...

Too bad! I always hate losing a plant. Maybe planting it elsewhere would revive it? Sadly I don't know a lot about hellebore..

Ramble on Rose said...

I'm sorry for you! But you're right to look at it as an opportunity.

Shady Gardener said...

What do you suppose happened? Try, try again!

Blackswamp_Girl said...

Those look almost like the 'Ivory Prince' hellebores that I have... and those are tough as nails for me! Boo. I wonder what happened? :-(

Rose said...

So sorry, MMD, what a disappointment this is. I'm wondering, too, what happened.

PlantPostings said...

Oh, I agree that is sad. I have a thing about Hellebores--they just amaze me with their hardiness. Mine are ready to bloom now, but I'm keeping the leaf mulch on them because we'll surely have terribly cold weather in the coming weeks. I wonder if your Hellebores will rebloom in the springtime? In any case, it's true you can look forward to trying a new variety in that spot.

Jean said...

Oh that's too bad. I was new to hellebores just last year, and I gotta say, I'm in love. Yes, try another one!

Laura said...

Don't give up yet! Although the Niger blooms earlier than the others, it is still early January. I think "Christmas rose" may be a misnomer.

Gardening Under The Influence said...

Now you have a bigger problem....which hellebore to choose!