Looking Forward to Spring

All the snow and ice has melted at last so I decided to walk down the garden and survey the damage. Most of the plants look flattened and very soggy, but there are some signs of new growth which makes me look forward to the first flowers of spring.  Snowdrops are usually the first flowers of the new year but growth has been delayed this year by the unusually low temperatures. The hellebores are in a sheltered spot and have a lot of new growth on them. I grow two types of hellebore, the white Helleborus Niger (Christmas Rose) and the varied shades of Helleborus Orientalis (Lenten Rose).
Helleborus Niger, or Christmas Rose, originated in central and eastern Europe and is believed to have first arrived in Britain with the Romans. It has black roots (hence the second name, Niger) which were believed to have been a cure for mania, insanity and melancholy. The plant was also believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits so was often planted near to the entrance of the house. It produces beautiful white flowers between December and March and grows between 12 and 18 inches high.
Helleborus Orientalis, or Lenten Rose, originated in southern Europe and Asia. There are a number of varieties of this plant producing flowers in shades of crimson, purple, pink and white (see picture above). It grows to a height of 18 - 24 inches.
Hellebores like partial shade and deep, well drained but moist soil. They do not like being moved once established. The roots can be divided in March after flowering to produce new plants.