I was determined to finish the front garden tidy-up before I tackled the Main Herbaceous Border right beside the house so every time I went down to the compost heap this border was constantly calling me to give it the annual clean-up!
This is how it looked on New Year's day! So despite the very cold weather I got stuck into to clean-up - particularly concentrating on removing all the Helebore leaves - I added the helebores to this border recently and I am delighted how it has extended the season of this border that is viewed from the house whatever the weather!
This morning there is a really hard frost so it was a good opportunity to take a photo of the finished border! The large plant left standing is a Cerinthe that self-seeded here. I leave some of the mature plants over the winter because they are constantly in flower and are beloved of Bumble Bees when they come out of hibernation! The sight of the bees absolutely drunk buzzing around this plant warms the heart!
The frost melted, the sun came out, and I took the opportunity to take photos of some of the helebores making their home in this border.
Hazel, I’m amazed at how advanced your beautiful hellebores are, despite it being colder in Laois than it is here. Mine are still in bud, apart from one that always flowers in December. Great tidy up, the border looks super. Joan
ReplyDeleteHazel, I’m amazed at how advanced your beautiful hellebores are, despite it being colder in Laois than it is here. Mine are still in bud, apart from one that always flowers in December. Great tidy up, the border looks super. Joan
ReplyDeleteThanks Joan! I started taking leaves away at the beginning of December and that helped - Those ones are in a south-facing border so maybe that is why they are so early!
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