T HE FIRST RACE AT CUPCAKE DOWNS always has the same winner by a length: Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose, the first perennial to bloom, no matter what. This year is no exception (which is what “no matter what” means, perhaps you guessed) and here it is. Up and running, since March 20, as if to greet the spring personally and right on time.
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
I just got my first hellebore today! I love nigris, and hope to get one sometime. Are those edible pod peas?
Welcome, Sue. Congratulations on joining the hellebore fold…you will soon be addicted. Pea pods? No. Don’t eat any part of a hellebore; not safe. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen an animal munch one. See you soon again.
I’ve tried hellebore Niger trice and every time it died on me so I now have the Orientalis and they thrive here.
My hellebores are so droopy this year…I know the cups are supposed to turn down so they don’t collect the snow…but I am wondering if they are suffering from too little water. It has been a really dry winter.
Welcome, Susan. I don’t know…I have ones that face in all directions, and in all flower sizes and shades and so on, so I am not sure. Nice to “meet,” and I will do some homework and see what I learn.
Man, do I love this plant-it’s so nice to see them here in Central Park.
Welcome, Bernard. It is amazing that in a few short years the hellebore has gone from virtually unknown to American gardeners to part of a public landscape. Love it! Hope to see you again soon.
I haven’t had much luck with the H. niger either, though the H. orientalis is easy enough to please. I may try H. niger again since my new garden has much better drainage then my old one.
@Dierdre: The funny part: I tried H. niger in a really well-drained spot over and again…failure….and then I stupidly (it might seem) put it where the soil stinks, no drainage. It’s delighted. I think that thinking too much sometimes has no good effect, and that plants just do what they want to anyway, to piss you off, you know? Anyhow, you are right, of course…but sometimes things work (or fail) in spite of what’s in the books. Mystery!
As of 3/16/2011 my new helleborus niger is blooming!! Planted last summer.