Reflections

Blogging is so weird. It is like writing a personal diary and then broadcasting it on Channel 7, never knowing for sure if anyone is even tuning in. I only know that especially on these chilly winter days, conjuring up images of green things growing is the consummate tonic. On a recent trip to Ikea (yes, we finally bought a genuine Full-size sofa bed), I found myself indulging in a silk plant for my bathroom. There it sat at the checkout---a faux hellebore, its rich burgundy petals a credible version of the real thing. It was a hefty 70 percent off, one of several kinds of Holiday floral arrangements that were being cleared out at the end of the season. After watching Monty Don's programs on European gardens, I couldn't help wondering if American consumers realized what they were seeing, what important garden plant hellebores are abroad.  In both my New York (shown in the photo) and now Petoskey gardens, I have had good luck with growing them. They may be finicky about transplanting, but once reestablished, they grow like mad.  The white or dark burgundy blossoms---so-called Christmas or Easter roses---can change and morph over time, although some hellebore hybrids promise stable colors. How fun to find this usual faux plant choice amid a collection of 'traditional' holiday evergreens and poinsettias ! It's a small world. We discover something new every day.