Hellebores Chores Galore

Hamamelis Intermedia (Witch Hazel)

One of the side effects of all these Master Gardener Classes I've been attending is that I've learned about the myriad problems that lurk in New Jersey gardens. The weeds that have obsessed me since I moved here are benign in comparison. Now I have to watch for hordes of pathogens that thrive in New Jersey growing conditions as we as the plants.

Unhealthy Helebores

In recent days, there has been a drastic shift in how I experience the garden. My delight in discovering new blossoms of Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) was diminished by the spots I saw on leaves of Hellebores (Lenten Roses).  Were those black spots there before? I ran to the book on Hellebores that the previous owner left me. I think it might be a fungus called Black Spot (of all things). It said to cut back all the diseased leaves and NOT put them into my compost pile.

Dipping garden shears in bleach
between cuttings prevents
the spread of pathogens

I put on heavy wool socks, a warm winter hat, donned long underwear under my sweats, squeezed glove liners inside my gardening gloves, grabbed some shears and poured some bleach into a container. As the leaves were removed, my despair mingled with delight when I discovered flower buds emerging. Different plants were unveiling different shades of purple, maroon, pink and white.

Well Groomed Hellebores

That was good news and bad news. Because I also learned from the Hellebores book that you're supposed to trim away old leaves when the buds start to emerge. That's not so easy when it's 40° out. It's even harder when you have roughly 60 plants to trim! After two days, I only have about 50 more to go.

Things were so much simpler in Boulder. My little garden was safe from a host of insects, viruses, bacteria and molds because they and their plant hosts didn't like the climate. But my little garden didn't have Witch Hazel and Hellebores blooming in February.

New Hellebores are budding