Hellebore weekend

18 comments

I went up to Llandysul’s Farmyard Nurseries with friend last Saturday. First up was a talk on winter colour for which we were very late, friend’s satnav having got us thoroughly lost so we had to stand squashed in at the back. Then off downstairs to look at what was on display in the hall. The platform had been transformed into a hillside garden with hellebores taking pride of place at the front.

There were two long tables of hellebores for sale, plus several others crammed with other plants, all in great condition. Here’s one of them.

I was very restrained and only bought two! This one and a small single lemon one with red centre.

I had taken my brand new camera (bought the previous day)and struggled mightily with it so there are fewer photos fit to be seen than there might have been – most had to be deleted…

Then we went off to see the nursery where there were more big polytunnels than we’d ever seen in one place before, six of them devoted to the hellebore breeding programme. By then I was too bemused to take any photos of them, sorry! Every plant that was currently being used as a parent had a little piece of wool tied on the appropriate stem. It was pretty cold and wet so we didn’t linger but returned to the hall in time for the talk on the breeding programme, which traced the development from little single pink ones right up to the incredible ones they now have. Because it wasn’t possible to show them all they had floated the flower heads in water just to show the variety. Here they are, and almost every one is different.

Just to finish off with I also bought a nice little hardy fuchsiaSarcoccoca
hook. humilis to replace a dying skimmia and a “Buds of May” hardy Fuchsia called Anthea.

We plan to go back to the nursery later in the year on a fine day. Its well hidden but worth the struggle of finding it! If you are ever in Cardiganshire (Ceredigion)do seek it out, you won’t be disappointed. And there is free tea and coffee!

They sell the plants by post as well if you feel tempted.

26 Feb, 2016
9 likes

Comments

Lincslass

Good ole satnav, when ours is being stupid and takes us the wrong way we always call it the Scenic Route, at least you got there in time, the hellebores are lovely aren't they, I wouldn't know which ones to choose if I saw them all in front of me like that, lol...Thanks for sharing your photo's Stera....

26 Feb, 2016

Siris

What a lovely selection, like the one you bought, and when you have got to grips with the new camera a photo of the lemon one please.

26 Feb, 2016

Bloomer

A lovely day out ,Sue,and spoilt for choice with those super Hellebore's. I like the one you chose,and well done with your new camera..Thanks for sharing...

27 Feb, 2016

Steragram

I did photo the lemon one Siris but it came out fuzzy so will have to try again. Its a very small plant - couldn't really justify two large ones at those prices, after all the petrol it took to get there...there's a similar one in the last picture, at the edge about 1 o'clock.

27 Feb, 2016

Hywel

It sounds very interesting. I'm glad you enjoyed. I wish it was in a more accessible place.
I've never seen Hellebores floating in water before.
Farmyard Nurseries have a garden centre in Carmarthen, and they also have stalls in one of the streets on Wed and Sat. They've got some interesting and unusual plants.

27 Feb, 2016

Steragram

Yes I noticed in their literature that they have a place in Carmarthen. One of these days I'll get David to get into Carmarthen, preferably on a market day - did you say it was Wednesdays? You would be amazed at the size of the nursery Hywel, its massive - and right out in the wilds too -took a bit of finding!

27 Feb, 2016

Hywel

Yes I know, we went there a few years ago. I thought I'd never find it and my agoraphobia started to get the better of me, so I was glad to get away from there.

Market day in Carmarthen is traditionally on Wednesday, but all the days are more or less the same these days.

27 Feb, 2016

Steragram

What a shame Hywel, you must have felt frustrated to have missed some of it. Perhaps it might be easier another time now you know what to expect. But as they have a place nearer you perhaps you can get the pleasure without the stress...

28 Feb, 2016

Dottydaisy2

A very interesting blog, I thought you were very restrained, I would not have been able to resist I am afraid....

28 Feb, 2016

Rose1949

Just catching up again Sue ! A lovely blog with some very lovely pictures ! I do like Hellebores and should really buy more than the two that I have !

29 Feb, 2016

Steragram

The nursery had lots of seeds for sale Rose but they said you have to wait three years for your first flower.

DD my problem was thinking where it would be best to put any more, I have seven already (three of them are pretty small still)

29 Feb, 2016

Dottydaisy2

That's were we differ lol I buy then worry about that when we get home......drives my poor OH mad??

1 Mar, 2016

Dorjac

I am still puzzled where my white hellebores popped up from. I never bought a white one. I believe they do not breed true to colour, so maybe that's the reason. Great to see if I type that's wrong it puts in the apostrophe when you hit space......clever ...must have been done on the last update. Not if it puts in the wrong word.

1 Mar, 2016

Steragram

I do that as well DD - my worst trick is to buy them and then put off planting them and sometimes they actually die in the pots which is dreadful - hardly like to admit it.

Dorjac the chap who did the talk said that the most common colour for self seeded ones is pink but I do like the white ones don't you?

1 Mar, 2016