Saturday, February 19, 2011

More February Color


When we woke up this morning, last night's snowfall has all melted but it was still cold with a biting wind. We were up early because today was the first day of the Hellebore Open Garden Days at Northwest Garden Nursery. Located just west of Eugene, Northwest Garden Nursery is owned by Ernie & Marietta O'Byrne. While the O'Byrnes grow many unique perennials, they have become famous the last few years for their hybridizing efforts with Hellebores. They have greatly increased the color variations available as well as expanded the blooms from singles to doubles and beyond. We attended the Open House last year, but arrived on the second day only to discover that they were already sold out! This year we arrived right at 10 AM when they opened and hit the hoop house first to do our shopping! Once we had picked out 5 beauties to take home, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the garden.






Besides Hellebores, the gardens are filled with lovely trees and plants. Even though we are still deep in Winter, there was bursts of color everywhere that you looked. I really loved this big drift of snowdrops.


And how beautiful is this large clump of Cyclamen.


I really like the contrast in color of the slate blue/grey with the blood red on this Agave.


A bamboo screen used to define the back of the garden.


Some pretty mottled foliage.

2 comments:

Matron said...

They are lovely! Just what we need this time of year! I wish someone could breed one that has a flower that faces upwards!!

Robin said...

Wow, I did not realize that there were so many different varieties of Hellebore. I have a white one in my white garden and people are always asking me what it is. What a nice way to spend a winters day!