This last week or so has been the week that everything seems to have gone wooooooooosh - in 2009 it happened in February! We came back from our weekend in the Lake District to find greening and leafing abound. Moreover the eBay hellebores had come into their own. Last year my friend D. who is a hellebore fanatic, mentioned that she had had ordered some hellebores via eBay and was pleased with the quality of the plants she received. Knowing how discerning she is, I was tempted and put in an order myself with the same seller initially for five anemone centred and five picotee hellebores. The plants were two year old seedlings and arrived quickly, looking healthy, happy and with good rootballs. The seller was generous and threw in extra plants. I was so impressed with their quality that I ordered another five plants - doubles this time. I must admit that I felt I was taking a bit of a risk as I would have to wait at least another year or possibly longer for the plants to flower. However price wise they were very reasonable (under £3.00 per plant) and I thought that they would be worth taking a gamble on. Well now the majority of the plants have flowered this year and I am delighted with my purchases. There are the spotty and dotty doubles ~
anemone centred ~
the picotees ~
and possibly my favourite this plain ivory double flower ~
Now to decide where to plant them. Most of them will be heading for the side of the sloping lane leading down from the main road to our garden. I have a vision of a bank of hellebores in the spring sunshine but it has some way to go. I must confess to ordering more doubles last month from the same seller ~ pink and burgundy this time so hopefully I will report back on them this time next year.
Anna, they look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that you got them in mail and they are in bloom. I always see so many plants that I want to order, but I’m too concerned about the quality of a plant that I will get. Well, it’s not only about quality, I’m more worried that plant will suffer during transportation. Is that silly?
That’s why I rather go to garden centers, that way I can choose and pick ones that I like the best.
Indeed, they are lovely. Every year, when people show photos of their hellebores I think 'I must buy some too!' - then I forget; so I have none.
ReplyDeleteEsther
Oh my you've got some fancy ones. From Ebay, no less - congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful Anna, I think you made a bargain!
ReplyDeleteDo you know if there is an Auricula show as well at Malvern flower show in May?
I sense an addiction to hellebores!! What fab bargains, I always hesitate to buy plants from ebay but might have a go now
ReplyDeleteThey are just beautiful, i'm a great lover of hellebores and am so impressed with all these different varieties. I feel a look ay Ebay and possible purchase coming on :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna they are fabulous. I love hellebores and have one on my recent post that was given to me by a plotholder that was moving, it's huge and so lovely.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about buying plants from Ebay. It looks like you've found a good seller there, they're beautiful plants, and you got a bargain.
ReplyDeleteAre they ever pretty! I've never tried ordering plants from ebay before, but it sure seems like you found great deals on some very pretty plants.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful Anna - who would have thought - eBay?!
ReplyDeleteThings have certainly romped ahead in the garden since last week haven't they? We've had lots of gentle rain today and everything looks so green and full of promise.
Jeanne x
Wonderful blooms Anna, I can well understand why you're so pleased with them!
ReplyDeleteHi Anna
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing about hellebores, possibly the most perfect blooms.
It's impossible to pic a favourite from those lovely images. Seems like the ebay seller is selling quality plants at a fair price, maybe its worth giving them a plug, they're doing business the right way.
Those are wonderful! We can usually only find one variety around here. My lady would love to be able to find those fantastic varieties.
ReplyDeleteWow, Anna, those are very new and different varieties from what I've seen. Cool!
ReplyDeleteStupid computer, I made a comment here this morning, but I wasn't sure if it had got saved, obviously not!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add my two cents in about how beautiful the helleborus were, and what a deal!
Hi Anna,
ReplyDeleteI just discovered hellebores a couple years ago, and found some to plant last year. They are small so far, but most are either blooming or about to. I love yours! I wonder if I could find room for some ebay ones.
Anna, what a wonderful treat! They are stunning.
ReplyDeleteps. (Some days I think I am spotty and dotty myself ;-) )
Hello Anna, this hellebore are marvellous - I love them. Thanks for sharing. It will be very nice to meet you at Malvern :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Poland,
E.
How beautiful they all are. I have a pink one in flower, but as i inherited it with the garden I have no idea what it is called. I may need to buy some more now though....!
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog. What beautiful flowers...I have never grown Hellebores but they look wonderful, and who'd have thought they could be found on ebay!A bank of hellebores sounds a great plan.
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely. I need to update my Hellebore bed - too many boring seedlings are flowering now. Who did you buy them from on ebay?
ReplyDelete