I am Kevin Kelly, and I garden on a suburban property (one-third acre) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Zone 6b). I have been gardening here for 25 years since we had the house built on a vacant lot. My wife is the cheerleader but otherwise has no interest in our outdoor space, except to remind me that I buy too many plants. Today I wanted to focus on some of the many hellebores (Helleborus species and hybrids, Zones 4–9) that dot the landscape. I love them because they are deer resistant and bring much-needed color in March and April. I hope you enjoy a few from my collection.
This looks like one of the newer sterile hellebore hybrids (perhaps the variety Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince’, Zones 4–9), which boasts an over-the-top profusion of flowers.
A warm coppery bloom, with delicate spots of darker colors in the throat.
This pale pink hellebore looks so delicate that it is hard to believe it is one of the most durable perennials you can grow, laughing at deer and cold temperatures alike.
Hellebore flowers reward those who take the time to get up close to enjoy their details, as does this soft, pale yellow bloom painted with purple at its heart.
A double pink, with layers of extra petals.
What an incredible bloom, with layer after layer of ruffled white petals!
White with purple speckles is a classic hellebore pattern. It is found on some the very first hybrids widely introduced and is still just as beautiful and enjoyable in the garden.
A hellebore loaded with blooms shows off in a container. Growing these perennials in containers is a great way to lift them up to where you can easily enjoy their blooms up close.
A hellebore flower backlit by the sun.
Clearly Kevin is not only a great gardener, but a photographer as well! I love the way the veins on the leaves in this image seem to glow with the sunlight behind them.
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