Wednesday, March 14, 2012

How to enjoy Hellebore in the house



The beautiful Hellebore (Lenten Rose) is showing up everywhere.



Their exotic looks make them a favorite.




Once they drop their seeds,  place in a little water and let mature.  They will stay like this for months.





In my garden they bloom at the same time as my daffodils






The flower on the right has formed its seed pod.  Now is the time to cut them and they will last for days in water. 





When they are at this earlier stage,  cut a slit with a sharp knife along the entire stem and place all the way up to their heads in water overnight in a dark and cool place.







Prop their heads up a bit so you can see into their beautiful faces.    Insert a 2 to 3 inch long piece of florist wire into the side of the stem and through the head of the flower, make a little hook at the end and pull back until you can't see the wire.








Have you noticed  how beautiful their leaves are?  I use them throughout the year for many flower arrangements. 

Have a great remainder of the week my dear 
Blogging Friends.

Gina   


Today I'm joining  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Today I'm also linking to  http://rosorochris.blogspot.com/
I'm also joining http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Today I'm joining http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

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46 comments:

  1. sharon santoni at my french country homeMarch 14, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    I love hellebore, the white varieties around Christmas and the pinker ones now

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  2. LaPouyetteMarch 14, 2012 at 9:53 AM

    OMG !!!!!
    I'm speechless my dear Gina! So, so wonderful, beneide Dich!!!!!

    Having only a very few this year, cannot get any special ones around here in our region. But will work on it during this year to find some. Meanwhile I'll enjoy YOURS !!!!
    Thank you so much for showing all these Beauties! Such a great pleasure, can't tell you! And what a good tip! Will keep certainly in mind.

    Und ganz lieben Dank noch for your lovely comment, my Dear! Started garden work on Monday, but can only do a few hours stretched out during the whole day. And now its getting too hot in the afternoon to work in full sun, would you believe. And my body is complaining, pruning hard stuff, cutting wood branches.....and thinking:
    "Ich moechte nochmal zwanzig sein" - ha-ha...but only for 2 weeks to bring everything in order. Apart from that I'm rather not unhappy with my age.
    So, I'm having a break and go for a short visit to the blog world.
    In diesem Sinne,
    herzlichsten Gruss and looking so much forward to your visit in September!!!
    xxxkarin

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  3. RosemaryMarch 14, 2012 at 10:05 AM

    Thanks for the great tips Gina - now I shall be able to enjoy them for longer. Wonderful photos.

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  4. GinaMarch 14, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    Dear Karin, Like you, manchmal möchte ich auch zwanzig sein. Aber ich bin fröhlich das ich noch gesund und munter bin. Alles dauert jetzt viel länger zu machen, especially hard work in the garden, bloss die Zeit geht zu schnell verüber.
    When we come in September I will bring you a few little plants from my Helleborous. They make little plants near the mother plant and are easy to tranplant. However, they take 2 to 3 years to bloom. But, it's a start.ox Gina

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  5. GinaMarch 14, 2012 at 10:21 AM

    Dear Sharon, I'm with you. I love the white varieties also. They look so pretty in Christmas decorations. Only in this climate we have to wait till early spring for them to bloom.

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  6. GinaMarch 14, 2012 at 10:24 AM

    Dear Rosemary, Hope these tips work for you. I think that your climate, because it is more humid than ours, should make it possible. So nice that you came by for a visit. ox, Gina

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  7. The enchanted homeMarch 14, 2012 at 7:11 PM

    Wow absolutly beautiful Gina! The colors are so vibrant.....ahhh so happy spring is just about here!

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  8. BabsMarch 14, 2012 at 8:18 PM

    Georgeous Helebores and photos! Love the double ones.Thanks for the instructions for preparing them for a vase. I have some blooming and I'll try your method when I cut them. Thanks,
    Babs

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  9. Mark D. RuffnerMarch 15, 2012 at 7:41 PM

    I continue to learn new things from your blog, Gina. I wasn't at all familiar with Heelebore. The leaves look as though they might be edible.

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  10. AnonymousMarch 16, 2012 at 4:07 AM

    Mycket vackra vårtecken. Very beautiful.

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  11. UnknownMarch 16, 2012 at 4:39 AM

    Beautiful pictures of your spring flowers!
    Take care,
    Charlotta

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  12. LottaMarch 16, 2012 at 5:58 AM

    Lovely flowers and nice collage.
    Have a nice weekend.
    Lotta

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  13. GinaMarch 16, 2012 at 6:03 AM

    Dear Tina, Can't wait to see what you will do with your landscaping at your new house. Thanks for your visit.

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  14. GinaMarch 16, 2012 at 6:04 AM

    Dear Babs, Let me know how you manage with your Helleborus. Would love to see a picture.

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  15. GinaMarch 16, 2012 at 6:07 AM

    Hello Mark, Hellebore like cool weather...don't know if they would grow in Florida. The leaves are quite large and once they get a little older are quite tough...they could even be poisonous. Will have to check it out.

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  16. GinaMarch 16, 2012 at 6:07 AM

    Thank you Ankii and thank you also for your visit.

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  17. GinaMarch 16, 2012 at 6:09 AM

    Hello Madame Charlotta, Thank you for your lovely compliment. It's so nice of you to come over for a visit.

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  18. GinaMarch 16, 2012 at 6:10 AM

    Hello Lotta, Flowers lend themselves easily for a collage, don't you think? Thank you for your visit.

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  19. valerietilsten59.blogspot.comMarch 16, 2012 at 2:34 PM

    ihave.never.seen.such.a.lovely.flower.the.lenten.rose.
    your.photos.are.stunning.the-flowers-are-beatiful.to.paint.
    happy.weekend.Gina.
    problems.with.my.computer..
    xx
    val

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  20. BeritMarch 17, 2012 at 2:05 AM

    Beutiful photos of springflower.
    Have a nice weekend!

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  21. Going NativeMarch 17, 2012 at 7:00 AM

    My goodness. Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  22. MimiMarch 18, 2012 at 12:34 PM

    The helebores are fabulous. haven't seen this variety. As a florist, I see them as a cut flower. wished they lasted longer once cut.

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  23. GinaMarch 18, 2012 at 2:05 PM

    Dear Val, Would love to see your painting when you decide to paint the Lenten Rose.
    You have solved your computer problems in a very clever way. Did you receive my return email, which you sent a few days ago?

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  24. GinaMarch 18, 2012 at 2:05 PM

    Hello Berit, How sweet of you to stop by for a visit. Have a great coming week. Gina

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  25. GinaMarch 18, 2012 at 2:07 PM

    Hi Mary, Thank you for your visit and lovely compliment. It is always so rewarding to receive such a nice mention. Gina

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  26. GinaMarch 18, 2012 at 2:11 PM

    Hi Mimi, Yes, being a florist you know all about these strange yet fascinating flowers. Have you tried first conditioning them? And if you catch them just right, they will last at least a week.

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  27. Leslie's GardenMarch 18, 2012 at 7:05 PM

    I've never seen a Hellebore in person, but your photos show them to be worthy of the garden. I love the suttle shifts in color in each petal.

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  28. Cottage and BroomeMarch 18, 2012 at 7:12 PM

    Wow, great tips on how to photograph them. I also posted pics of Lenten Roses but I did it the hard way I laid on the ground to get my shot. Hope you will stop by, we each have different varieties, Laura

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  29. GinaMarch 18, 2012 at 7:52 PM

    Hi Leslie, How nice of you to visit. Helleborus are a very fascinating flower.

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  30. GinaMarch 18, 2012 at 7:54 PM

    Hi Laura, I get down on the ground for many flowers. It's worth it. Some wonderful photographs are the results. So keep on doing what you are doing.

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  31. VeeMarch 18, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    I am unfamiliar with this flower other than what I see on blogs. It really looks beautiful and sounds like a wonderful flower to have in bouquets. I'll have to do some research and see if they live in my corner.

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  32. a quiet lifeMarch 18, 2012 at 9:17 PM

    so beautiful~

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  33. SnapMarch 19, 2012 at 6:06 AM

    Stunning hellebores!

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  34. A Garden of ThreadsMarch 19, 2012 at 6:09 AM

    Beautiful collection of hellebores. I can only grow very hardy ones in my Z4b garden, but I am happy to have the few I do. Have a great week:)

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  35. Life Images by JillMarch 19, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    I saw the Lenton Rose in another blog today. It is so beautiful! I have never seen one before. I might have to find out if I can buy one here. So beautiful. Thankyou for sharing these gorgeous blooms with us.
    And have a wonderful week

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  36. My Little Home and GardenMarch 19, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    Those are gorgeous flowers.

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  37. TeresaMarch 19, 2012 at 12:05 PM

    Beautiful flowers, and your pictures are wonderful!

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  38. Mary Howell CromerMarch 20, 2012 at 9:45 AM

    These are beautiful flowers shared! Have a Happy week!

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  39. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:38 PM

    Hello Vee, In warmer climates Hellebore like to live under trees with lots of humus. Here in Zone 4 they will grow nicely with a lot of sun. Give them a try.

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  40. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:39 PM

    Thank you Snap. Have you tried growing them? Would love to hear from you.

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  41. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:40 PM

    Hi Blue Moon. Thank you for your nice compliment and also thank you for your visit. It is very much appreciated.

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  42. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    Hi Garden of Threads. I also live in Zone 4. They do well here. I also have little seedlings show up which I have transplanted. But it takes about 3 years before they get large enough to bloom.

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  43. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    Hi Jill, I have actually found some of my Hellebores at WalMart and they are always on sale at the end of the season. Good luck and have a great week.

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  44. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    Hi Little Home and Garden, Hope you will try some in your garden. Hellebores are pretty tough and will grow in many environments. And, thank you for your visit.

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  45. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    Hi Teresa, how nice of you to notice. I thank you very much and thank you also for your visit.

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  46. GinaMarch 20, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    Hi Mary, and a happy week to you too. Thank you for stopping by. I truly appreciate it.

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