Diana Mead - Fine Artist

 Plant of the Month

Hellebore and Arum Italicum Marmoratum

I have not had a hellebore in full flower this early before, it is odd to have it in flower before the snowdrops are fully out. Other hellebores are also starting to flower, including the magnificent double white and the dramatic purple, as January closes. The Arum Italicum alongside is also at its best with perfect new leaves. The shade garden is starting to look good.  

The Winter Iris continues to flower spasmodically when the weather is mild but they are much-loved by slugs and snails. They are joined by the Corsican Hellebore with its tall, dramatic greenish-white flowerheads.

These usually precede the Hellebore

Orientalis by several weeks. Again it 

is unusual to have them flowering at the same time.

 Corsican Hellebore

The dark-leaved Euphorbia alongside is a well established plant and will grow to three feet tall. I bought it as a dwarf one but actually prefer the taller version, it gives a bit of height and drama.

Snowdrops

The snowdrops in the vegetable garden

 always flower before the ones in the shade garden, giving me a prolonged display.

Rear Courtyard Garden

Winter is the perfect time to check the "bare bones" of the garden and evaluate the design. I am pleased with this area, the changes have worked well and, even in the bareness of Winter, it looks pleasant from inside the house.  .  

The tall stick-like plant with a cane on the left is a Malus Golden Hornet which will have lovely yellowish crab

apples, a bargain buy at a garden centre in a 25% off end of season sale. Couldn't walk past that! It will be  planted in the front garden when weather permits. It is far too wet at present.

The tall urn in the front of the picture is planted with cyclamen. The pink and purple hyacinths are starting to poke through the soil, giving a promise of flowers and fragrance to come. The cyclamen were decimated in the severe weather last year but this year's milder Winter has suited them better.