Those are all lovely. I also like "Ice Follies". The only hellebore I have is Ivory Prince and it has been an easy plant to grow with very little care needed. I am trying to start some others from seed. I don't think stating where you bought your plants is advertising. People post all the time about where to buy plants or where they got plants.

Would you even see the foliage or stems in winter? Usually in our winter, with all our snow, there isn't much to be seen. Even if a plant is evergreen it is buried until the snow starts to melt in spring. I don't know of any other 'winter stems' besides dogwood or other trees and shrubs. I do know of a couple foliage plants that might compliment your Hellebore though. Carex (sedge) is evergreen or semi-evergreen and might work for you. My 'Ice Dance' does VERY well in dry shady sites. It spreads, but is fairly easy to get rid of any spreading chunks you don't want. Bergenia is another nice evergreen foliage plant. Round-ish leaves that can have a nice burgundy/wine tinge in the cold months. One cultivar, 'Bressingham Ruby', is supposed to have exceptionally nice colored foliage. CMK

I appreciate divergent opinions because it reminds me that I have to think for myself. And it gets me thinking about the basic principles, instead of looking for pat answers. I don't winter mulch anything much despite our frequent freeze thaws. a) because it is either sink or swim here for plants (don't water either) b) because my property is so wide open that I have few leaves to use. Brought some leaves in from another property one year and now my maples have black spot. Sigh. I must be dense because I always thought mulching involved COVERING the plant/crown - thought that was the whole point. Maybe covering the plant is less likely to be a problem for stuff that dies right back? And if you don't put the mulch on too early in the fall, or leave it too long in the spring? I am struggling with understanding how mulching AROUND a plant/crown helps protect it. The thing with the hellebores is they are evergreen so the season's growth isn't supposed to die back like with hostas. Is that the big difference, or have I been REALLY lucky because the mulching that I do has been done "wrong"? I will not put mulch ON them but will put it around them, as per advice from you all. Thanks again. I am so excited to finally have these - a big splurge for me, plus it signifies FINALLY getting an area beside the house fixed up - walkway, stone steps, put my own stepping stone in. I should figure out how to take a picture and show it to you. Ken - don't laugh - this summer started in August (lasted 3 weeks!) for us. C

I went :-) Like I need any more plants!! Bought a cute little eucryphia from Ian and picked up a couple of other items. It was not as vendor heavy as I expected it to be - looks like some that were expected didn't show, as there were a number of vacant tables. I did have a long chat with Eric Bloom of NW Perennials. This is the last showing from that outstanding local perennial supplier as they are closing their doors at the end of the month. This will be a real loss as it was one of the best smallish local perennial growers, always producing high quality, unusual plants but timing, the economy and the changing gardening scene just got the best of them. They are good people and I hope they land on their feet. I stopped by Wells Medina on my way home, but I managed to resist any further spending. Place looks good with a nice selection of shrubs and new bare root trees available. A good selection of bare root fruits and berries as well. And they were offering a great selection of the new Winter Jewels hellebores from the O'Byrne's - all in full bloom.