some early hellebores

[assybish]

That form (picotee) is one of my favourites I first bred it 12 years ago and also now have it in semi-double and double forms and doubles with veins and picotee
I love the clean elegant simplicity

[Maggi Young]

Stunning flowers, Mike.  
Something so fetching about the picotee .

[fleurbleue]

I think all the same Maggi 

[ChrisB]

Love them too....

[Peppa]

Mike, sorry to hear about the problems that you've been dealing with. I hope that things are better for you now...

Thanks for the info about the differences between the yellow and gold coloring of hybrid hellebores. It was very interesting to know that they have different causes. I had always assumed that the gold color was a result of extensive breeding of yellows; I didn't realize that it was a mutation. That's great info - it also accounts for the relative lack of vigor I've seen in a few golds, which I had always assumed was due to the plant being bred aggressively. I'm looking forward to seeing your double and semi-double gold forms with heavy veining in the future! You have great looking picotees! What a collection!

Maggi, Wakaizumi farm is one of the best and most well-known hellebore nurseries in Japan. Because hellebores have become very popular in Japan in recent years, there have been an increasing number of nurseries that specialize in breeding hellebores (even people who aren't in the trade) as well as an increased interest in species. I have a long list of web sites and blogs that I follow, including both hellebore nurseries and friends. It's always fun to see what folks are doing in different countries. 

[assybish]

Peppa
I have line bred yellows and get very good yellows but the gold with gold necatries I am sure is a mutation. The very first plants were indeed very weak growers but by outcrossing with some of my yellows and obviously spotted and veined yellows and whites the current f3-5 generations are much more resilient but they will never be as vigorous as fully photosynthetic hellebores.

[Stephen Vella]

Since where talking about breeding I thought I would add this from a batch of seeds sowed from pollination tallents of John Grimshaw and Mitchel Carl from hellebores bought in the U.K a few years back. This one that flowered for the first time is not only very black but the flowers stand outwards.

enjoy

[Peppa]

Pretty, pretty!!! Stephen, this is a very nice black, and they are hard to come by. I love dark colored flowers and everytime I see some nice black hellbores, I always grab them!

[Lesley Cox]

That is very special Stephen. And Peppa, your avatar picture is so pretty.

[ChrisB]

Lovely plant.  I have a double black but its not as nice as that one.

[Sue Beatty]

They're all very beautiful and I especially love the black.  Wonderful shots.

[Maggi Young]

Hi Sue! Great to see you active in the Forum.... 
Maggi

[Hoy]

The topic headline says "Some early hellebores". Although my contribution isn't as pretty as the doubles shown before (my few doubles are not early!) it is one of the earliest here in my garden. Picture taken yesterday.

[assybish]

A few more out for the new year.
For afficianados I've included Helleborus orientalis guttatus and Helleborus viridis (with red centre) plus some x hybridus from the collection

[Lina Hesseling]

Great pictures, great flowers! I love them! In my garden it will take another few weeks, before I'll have flowers. So I am happy to enjoy yours.

Lina.