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March 11, 2008

Spring -- and helleborus -- in Providence.

The clock has turned to Daylight Saving Time and the sun is shining brightly this morning. Crocus and snowdrops are sprouting up everywhere.

Helleborus suddenly appeared.

(Thanks to the projo garden blog; I, for the first time, wanted to know more about it and to share what I learned ). According to helleborus.org, Helleborus have grown in popularity in North America in the past decade and Helleborus x hybridus was named the 2005 ‘Perennial Plant of the Year’ by the Perennial Plant Association. Extracts from Helleborus have been used in homeopathy and traditional medicine.

Helleborus belongs in the genus Helleborus of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup). It is often called a Lenten rose, because it slightly resembles a single rose and blooms around the Lent season.

Hellebore – Wikipedia listed several legends involving Helleborus in witchcraft, tied to summoning demons. Helleborus niger is commonly called the Christmas rose, due to an old legend that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem.

In Greek mythology, Melampus of Pylos used hellebore to save the daughters of the king of Argos from a madness, induced by Dionysus, that caused them to run naked through the city, crying, weeping, and screaming.”

Helleborus require very little care and attention. Mine are single flowers. I hope to acquire double flower type which also come in many colors ( white, cream, green, purple and pink ).

Posted by Pat Feinstein  at 3:40 PM | Permalink

Comments

shauna | March 12, 2008 3:14 AM link

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