Sunday, February 15, 2015

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day February 2015

Sunday, February 15, 2015   Mark and Gaz   34 comments

This is going to be a slightly unique Bloom Day for us, we're only featuring one plant...


Walking around a garden centre near us earlier today we spotted one special hellebore in amongst a sea of others. And it's an hellebore that's been on our wishlist for quite some.

Helleborus (Rodney Davey Marbled Group) 'Anna's Red'
Finally we got hold of one after being on our wishlist for several years. We've had some chances before especially on plant fairs but have narrowly missed it. We first saw Annas Red at the 2012 RHS plant and Design show, however we were too late in being able to secure one. The stall holder told us to try next year!
Helleborus 'Annas Red' at the 2012 show
Even the foliage is lovely!
Saying that this sort of thing has happened time and time again. A rare plant that you can get hold of, give it time and you end up spotting them in an ordinary garden centre.

We join Carol of May Dreams Gardens for this months Bloom Day! Click on the link to see what's blooming in the garden of other bloggers this month.

 Mark :-)

Posted in: Bloom Day , exotic blog , exotic garden , exotic garden blog , hellebore , Leagrave , Leagrave Village

34 comments :

  1. rickii15 February 2015 at 23:35

    You picked a good one!

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  2. outlawgardener15 February 2015 at 23:51

    I love this Hellebore and think of you two whenever I see it which is quite often now. It's at all of the nurseries in abundance and I even saw some (no variety named but the foliage and blooms look just like my 'Anna's Reds') at Home Depot yesterday. It's interesting how plant availability is different for each of us. You get some things there years before they show up here and vice versa. Happy you got this one & I know you'll be happy together for years to come!

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    1. Mark and Gaz16 February 2015 at 07:36

      Thanks Peter and we hope so :) and hopefully we'll get hold of those two hellebores I mentioned on your blog soon!

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  3. rusty duck16 February 2015 at 00:35

    It's really beautiful. Don't think I've seen one in the flesh yet. Oh dear, I thought I had enough..

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    1. Mark and Gaz16 February 2015 at 07:36

      Check out your nearby GC Jessica, it might be there :)

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  4. Heather16 February 2015 at 01:25

    That's such a lovely color. Way to persevere!

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  5. Alison16 February 2015 at 01:46

    So glad you found one. Even with all the Hellebores I have, this is one I think I should get. They were all over the flower show, and I've seen them at the nurseries too. Wish I could ship you several, but I think that might get us both in trouble.

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    1. Mark and Gaz16 February 2015 at 07:39

      That'll be lovely Alison :) possible but not straightforward...

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  6. Lisa C. D.16 February 2015 at 02:58

    Ohh I´m glad you finally found one! It looks like a very handsome hellebore.

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    1. Mark and Gaz16 February 2015 at 09:39

      It is Lisa, really glad to have found one at last :)

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  7. Unknown16 February 2015 at 05:00

    What a great feeling it is to finally get your hands on one you've wanted for a long time. The chase is all part of the fun :)

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  8. Kris Peterson16 February 2015 at 05:28

    It's gorgeous! I don't think I've ever seen a hellebore that red before. The foliage is beautiful too. A great find!

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    1. Mark and Gaz16 February 2015 at 10:03

      It is Kris, and the blooms tend to face up too unlike most hellebores :)

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  9. Jane and Lance Hattatt16 February 2015 at 09:44

    Hello Mark and Gaz,

    So strange that you should feature this delicious looking Hellebore.

    Many years ago we visited Rodney Davey at his nursery in Devon. He is a Hellebore obsessive, exceedingly knowledgeable plantsman. There, apart from Helen Ballard's Nursery, many years before, was the most amazing Hellebore collection we have ever seen. It is worth a pilgrimage to see so many fabulous colours, singles, doubles, variations in foliage, variations in markings.....you name it, Rodney Davey has it!

    If in England......forget the garden centres.....go to the nursery. An experience never to be forgotten!

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    1. Mark and Gaz16 February 2015 at 11:43

      That sounds delightful Jane and Lance! Definitely with regards to going to nurseries, where most of the real gems can be found. And you've had me researching more about Rodney Davey now...

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  10. Sarah Shoesmith16 February 2015 at 10:42

    Great colour - and I love the foliage. What a beaut!

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  11. Andrea16 February 2015 at 14:52

    Hi Mark and Gaz, is hellebore flowering in Spring? I asked because i didn't see any in NZ. I am glad seeing temperate flowers there which sometimes i already know because of the blogs.

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    1. Mark and Gaz16 February 2015 at 19:54

      It flowers very early in the spring Andrea, or even during autumn and winter depending on the type :)

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  12. danger garden16 February 2015 at 17:16

    Oh good find! I especially love the foliage.

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  13. Anonymous16 February 2015 at 20:54

    I bought Anna's Red this year from Ashwood Nurseries. Went to talk by Anna Pavord this weekend and she told us how it was named for her, which she is thrilled about. Apparently Rodney Marsh is a reclusive plantsman who isn't keen on sharing his plants and not a business man at all. Anna had known him for years and seen the plant breed and bulked up and one day he told he he was naming it after her. It was such a good plant she knew it needed to be wider known but Rodney had not idea how to go about this. Luckily John Massey stepped in and helped him do plant breeders rights and get royalties so he now has an income from it which he badly needed - isn't that a nice story

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    1. Anna K17 February 2015 at 06:37

      That's a wonderful story! I love to hear things like that - thanks for sharing! :)

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    2. Mark and Gaz17 February 2015 at 07:40

      Thanks Helen, that's a lovely story that makes the plant even more endearing! It's a great honour to Anna Pavord seeming that this hellebore has so many merits and has earned praises from many gardeners. And knowing that the breeder is getting credit and royalties for it is good news :)

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  14. Anna K17 February 2015 at 06:38

    That is a beautiful one! I saw it a lot at the flower show this past week. I have a couple in my garden with the same marbled leaves, but they are more pink. I think I need to get this one too - especially since it is called Anna's red (even if it was for Anna Pavord! )

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    1. Mark and Gaz17 February 2015 at 07:41

      Anna is Anna, Anna :) it's only starting to become more available here and with so many merits it will be popular.

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  15. Anna17 February 2015 at 10:30

    Yeeeeeeay - so pleased that you have tracked her down and near to home as well :)

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    1. Mark and Gaz17 February 2015 at 20:46

      Indeed Anna, finally got hold of Anna's Red :))

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  16. Caro17 February 2015 at 10:54

    I still remember this well from when we went to Dixter a few years ago now. I have a few photos that I took on the day and your post has brought all those memories flooding back of meeting you guys there. I think I've only ever seen this cultivar at Dixter but will look out for it at the Plant Fair now! Have you got plans to go to any of the London RHS shows this year? C x

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    1. Mark and Gaz17 February 2015 at 20:51

      I remember that vividly Caro, that nice clump at Great Dixter :) No definite plans yet for any of the London shows. With the coming one we're not going now but I might be able to pop round quickly to check it out if I manage to wiggle out from work early.

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  17. debsgarden22 February 2015 at 17:16

    Lucky you! This one is on my wish list, too! I am also on the lookout for some gold ones. It seems the ones in garden centers here are the common ones, which I already have a gazillion.

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