Help much appreciated....

Can never have too many!
In past 30 years the price for special ones has really come down.
You can now pick up beautiful ones very cheaply.

Have you noticed some have stunning nectaries?
In this one the nectaries are dark red.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c0/91/09/c09109f35d7319acf86f36ac3c7cfe1b.jpg

This one golden...

https://farmyardnurseries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/helleborus-primrose-gold-nectaries-3.jpg

To see them at their best pick a flower and float it in water.

hellebores floated - Google Search


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When it's not so cold I will go back and make a tidier job of it! I found three clumps of them hidden around the back garden. They're behind Laurel bushes etc so I plan to dig them out and put them all together.

Having to resist getting more before my big plans to redesign the garden are taking place!!

 

Digging them out to move is best done in September.
And when you have over 300 clumps to cut back, then you can complain.
The yellow upward facing ones which we have, have self seeded with gay abandon all over one of the raised beds. The seedlings will have to be lifted and dealt with soon. Trouble is they do not come true from seeds so I will have to find somewhere to grow them on to flowering before throwing them away.
If you ever get the chance to go to Ashwood's Hellebore Days then take it ( and a bank loan).

 

Ahh!
To avoid beds covered in seedling plants the other job that needs doing later in the year is to remove all flowers and stalks before they seed like mustard and cress.
You have some beautiful ones shiney.

 

Dead heading is easier said than done when there are so many other jobs around the garden that need doing when the Hellebores are setting seed.
Depends on how many plants one has.

 

Getting down to the plants is not the problem, it is getting back up again.
I am on my 15th barrow load of Hellebore leaves and I still have the Damson Wood, the Yellow Border and another bed to do. So who planted too many of the things?

 

Hello again...hellebores...is it ok to cut the flowers off now?

 

Yes..before they seed everywhere.
Follow each flower stem back to the base and snip off.
Time consuming ...but very satisfying job.
Get a cushion and just sit down to do it.

You had a fab display from that one plant.
How very healthy it looks compared to first pic.

See link for what developing seed pods look like.

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/3f14d1aec...ed-taken-in-stanley-park-blackpool-bme9mg.jpg

 

At nearly £20 a plant in the garden centres i'd let em seed