Writing a blog post on early spring bloomers is very exciting because I don’t care much for winter. And this year, we’ve been very, very lucky on the West Coast. The only real snowfall happened just before Christmas when I was already on paid holidays.
To show how mild it’s been, I’ve gone through the winter months with only my cheap Walmart rubber boots and foot insoles. My kind of winter! I should add that my closest Stihl dealer still hasn’t restocked my favourite Stihl work boots.
Early spring bloomers
This past week, while on my lunch break, I picked up a copy of the latest Fine Gardening magazine. And there, on the very last page, (April 2018, p.86) was a discussion on early spring bloomers. Oh yes, that warmed me right up. That is until I read that Danielle Sherry, the magazine’s senior editor, didn’t like hellebores. Really?
I disagree. In my multi-family work landscapes hellebores are the only thing blooming in January. So what’s wrong with hellebores? According to Sherry, you have to get down on your knees and look up to see the little blooms. And once the blooms are spent, you just get “evergreen, crunchy, very boring plants.”
Just to prove Sherry wrong, check out the very first hellebore I came across.
This beauty required zero bending over. I shot it with little difficulty and enjoyed it just long enough so as not to upset my crew members.
Witch hazel
One thing we agree on is that Hamamelis is an interesting shrub and right now, early February on the West Coast, it is stealing the show in the landscape.
Hamamelis x intermedia is very dramatic with its burnt orange look. The yellow Hamamelis mollis is much warmer and the shrubs really stand out in the February landscape. When the boss isn’t around, I steal lots of long looks.
Two more bright lights
Snow drops (Galanthus) are popping up everywhere right now and I definitely had to bend over to shoot my pictures. But it was it worth it; as my boss wondered, briefly, why I was lying down on the sidewalk instead of driving home.
Sarcococcas aren’t very showy but as we know, their fragrance is intoxicating. You will notice the scent way before you notice the little white flowers. It’s like a game. Walk around your work site and let the fragrance hit you.
I think most gardeners love hellebores. If you don’t have any, definitely plant some and enjoy them. Bend down if you have to.
