Holy Helleborus!
Last January, I was taking a stroll in “the back 40” of my yard, a shaded untamed piece of land. To my surprise, I spied a bunch of wine colored blooms poking up from under the fallen yellow maple leaves. I recognized it instantly as a Helleborus, but had to peek over the neighbor’s fence to find where they came from! This is how Helleborus found its way into my garden, and is now one of my most favored shade loving, long blooming perennials.
Here’s a little history I learned on my quest to find out about this “alienesque” looking plant. Helleborus or the Lenten Rose are an ancient plant that dates back to 550 BC where ancient Greeks used it medicinally to heal psychological disorders. They bloom mid-winter to early-spring in varying intensities of burgundy, pink, white, green and rare apricot and yellow! The blooms are fascinating with their bright yellow sepals, sometimes spotted petals and velvety feel and appearance. Colors are enhanced by an iridescent sheen or sparkle when the light falls upon the heavy blooms. Even today the roots of Helleborus are used to treat cardiovascular disease.
With all of my new found respect for these delightful evergreen beauties, I have a feeling my shaded woodland garden will start to see more of these precious winter blooms.
Danielle Hendricks – Horticulturist
Saturday, January 25 at 10AM
Houseplant Repotting Clinic
Registration $5 or free with purchase of a container
Register by calling 757.898.7799
Houseplant Container Selection 101
Selecting the proper container is an important factor in the health of your house plant. You don’t want the container to be too large or too small. A container that is too small will restrict root growth, while an oversized container can cause root diseases caused by too much moisture in the soil. The most important feature in selecting a container is drainage. Containers with no drainage holes will hold water longer, a good reason to do a moisture check before watering. Containers can also be reused for different plants. Always wash them in a light bleach solution to kill any bacteria or disease that might be left over from previous plants.
Winter Annual Broadleaf Weed Control
The best way to beat winter annual weeds is to develop a dense vigorous turf grass. Select the appropriate grass seed blend for your area and properly fertilize, 
water, and mow to encourage dense turf that inhibits weed growth. Common annual broadleaf weeds are Hairy Bittercress, Chickweed, Clover, and Henbit. If you see broadleaf weeds emerging in your lawn, spray them now with Bonide Weed Beater Ultra, a liquid herbicide that can be used in cool weather.
Tips for the Garden
- Keep feeding your backyard birds Suet and other high protein feed plus provide them with clean, unfrozen water and you will have feathered friends forever!
- Prune fruit trees now, before the sap begins flowing, leaving a short nub of branch to promote healing. In addition, don’t forget to also cut off the “sucker” shoots from around the base of any fruit tree.
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