This gardener was feeling a little lonely and isolated from her fellow gardeners this morning – not a bad thing, as it turns out, since I was pushed into posting on Cathy’s wonderful In a Vase on Monday meme at Rambling in the Garden. It’s been such a long time Cathy!
Another factor is the soon-to-be-finishing hellebores. Now, I used never to value these little stars properly and I really, really regret it. Their appearance every year was met with a friendly nod and little else. Perhaps I would say to myself … ‘if only I had that luscious apricot I saw on so-and-so’s blog’ …
But now that they are one of the few things that will grow and spread in my garden – where it is always too wet or too dry – I’m cherishing them as they deserve. I’ve learned the valuing-what-you-have lesson well. And soon they’ll be gone for another year …
I’ve even learned (after very, very many years) how to make them last in a vase. None of that plunging in boiling water for a second, etc. A tiny little slit (not too big, not too small) at the base of the stem does the trick chez moi. And, if they wilt after a few days, I’ve found I can even revive them by removing, cutting and replicating my little life-prolonging cut.
I went out early this morning to pick and discovered that all my little white ‘Jenny’ narcissus were crawling with small slugs. It’s obviously going to be another spring of slug plague. At least the ‘Jennys’ bloomed for a week before they were destroyed.
Now go on over and look at everyone else’s offerings at Rambling in the Garden. And many thanks to Cathy for continuing to be the stalwart host that she is after more years than I can count. Have a lovely week!
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 
Thank you , beautiful photos.
And thanks to you for visiting, Paula. Lots of love xxx
A simple trick to prolong vase life in the hellebores! ‘Jenny’ is a beautiful daffodil; one I like very much.
It’s kind of my favourite – but that is something to do also, with my dog, Jenny, when I was a teenager. We spent a lot of time together, she and I!! I remember seeing Elka on your pages Paddy – she is now flowering here – I’m a bit disappointed. So tiny! She’s sweet though. It’s a case of me not reading the packet and planting her in the wrong place!
Yes, a small one but very nice.
A very nice combination of blooms! I’ll have to try your reviving methods when my Hellebores start to wilt. Happy spring!
Thanks so much – hope it works for you too!
So nice to see you back. And I do hate slugs too. Those hellebores are beautiful. I had oodles of them in my old garden, but here in the sparse garden I planted 2 in the fall. It will take time before I will have any to cut so I am enjoying yours.
So good to see you as well Donna – I was worried about you a while back. I think you went through some quite massive life changes, didn’t you? Anyway – lovely to see you gardening and writing again!
Yes I had some health problems and a big move.
Well – I hope things have levelled out a bit now for you Donna – good that you are posting and loving your flowers again.
Oh my, Cathy – what an abundant vase of hellebores! And you say your trick works? I have recently tried slitting the full length of the stem as recoomended elsewhere, but it wasn’t successful, so I shall experiment with your tip ASAP as it always a shame not to be able to cut them for a vase. Thanks for joing us today – do come again!! 🤣
I’ve tried a lot of things – including what you describe above – I was doing too much. For me – fingers crossed for you!!! – a little tiny slit at the base of the stem – not going through to the other side – seems to work. Slightly fiddly, but it gave me a vase that lasted at least a week (more, I think)
A lovely bunch of hellebores, Cathy. Thanks for the tip about slitting the stem for vase longevity. Here’s a tip for you to try: Spray cooled black coffee on your blooms to deter slugs. Apparently, it works well. I just learned it and will try it as things emerge in my garden.
Oh Eliza – I will try it! I was down in the orchard today and saw that a new planting of daffodils was pretty shredded as well … thanks so much!
Fingers crossed!
I love seeing all the hellebores.
The more I look at them, the richer their colours seem.
Tapestry colors!
It’s good to “see” you again, Cathy! I love your abundant hellebores combined with Euphorbia. I’ll definitely try your trick to prolong a hellebore’s vase-life. Sorry about the slugs!
Good to ‘see’ you as well! … yes, the slugs continue to cause me to tear my hair out. There’s a whole patch of new daffs down below decimated by them. I have to be philosophical
That is a glorious arrangement and I do like that combination with the Euphorbia. Thanks for the trick to keep them fresh – I have given up after trying so many methods and just pick them when they start going over instead. 🌸
I’m afraid the euphorbia has already wilted, but was nice while it lasted!
Wow, those are impressive hellebores. I should have gotten pictures of a few of ours (without cutting them) because by our expectations, they performed unusually well this year. They dislike the climate here.
Thanks – well – just be grateful for all the things you can grow, that I can’t!!!
I tend to take them for granted.
Good to see you again Cathy 😀 An interesting and different tip regarding lengthening the vase life of hellebores. I’ve also read that they last longer if you pick flowers that have started to set seed but I think that the flowers are less attractive at the stage. Oh what a shame about your ‘Jennys’ – such an attractive little daffy. Slugs and snails have certainly relished the wet autumn and winter we’ve had here.
I saw someone who suggested different treatments for different phases – I think they are probably right … and need to be more patient!