I called into the plant centre at RHS Wisley – for me almost as interesting as some of the gardens! – and of course the hellebores caught my eye. Anna’s Red and Penny’s Pink, naturally. Walberton’s Rosemary, which is planted to such good effect in the raised bed just as you enter the gardens from the ticket kiosks. Hellebore niger Joel, of the Hellebore Gold Collection, changing from pure white to deeper greens as the flower matures. Tutu, with the Tudor ruff at the centre of each flower – and a new Harvington Hybrid, Rebekah. With the £25 price tag….
From Petersham Nurseries, just a couple of Oriental Hybrids from Hugh Nunn, one a lovely deep yellow, the other double, frilled and spotted.
Penny’s Pink is quite the rage here this year in the Pacific Northwest US, according to our retail plantsfolk buyers. — THGg
Anna’s Red, also from Rodney Davey, is my favourite of the two introductions; Penny’s Pink can be a bit muddy, but with large, outward-facing flowers and marbled foliage, it is still a winner
In the Healing Garden, our preference this year is Merlin – and for a pure white, Snowflake. Merlin has a beautiful flower that challenges Penny’s Pink, and beautiful variegated foliage as well. Merlin’s flowers face up and out and flowers, leaves and stems bore up admirably to a long cold snap. Merlin snapped right back! — THGg
One for me to search out – thank you for the recommendation!