Helleborus: First Flowers of Michigan Spring

This patch of Hellebores (a.k.a. Lenten Roses) are growing up in our woods. They're among the first bloomers around our place and they hold their blooms all season long. The flowers, instead of wilting and falling apart, dry and pale out, and remain in the garden as dried flowers. They self seed easily and, unlike my hosta shoots, the deer and rabbits leave them alone.

They are not stocked at too many nurseries and if you do find them, they're fairly expensive, usually more than $12-15 per pot.

Now, if I could just fill my woods with them...