These Hellebores are a variety that is supposed to bloom at Thanksgiving. That rarely happens here as the cold winter weather stops them just as they're getting started. This year we've had a warm week with temps in the mid to high 40s. Thus one of the clumps of Helleborus niger found the temperatures pleasant enough that it managed to push buds though the leaf clutter.
But when I tried to pull back the leaves to see what was happening underneath, it was clear that things were still frozen. Our temps are dropping back into the 30s so it's unlikely these flowers will do anything more until spring.
Its sibling clump across the path was so frozen that I could not even lift off any leaves to check on it. These Hellebores are eight years old and mostly behave like this. They came from the late Seneca Hill Perennials which is the same zone as me but they managed to grow a lot of plants that are impossible here.
I'm not really complaining. How could I do anything but be cheered by the sight of Hellebores in December. It may be enough to keep my spirits up until March when the garden will start to come to life again.
