December in the Northern Hemisphere

[David Nicholson]

Leena, I think it is more to do with having a relatively benign (but wet!) climate than any skill exercised by (this) gardener. We have had only two very light frosts so far this year. I sometimes wonder if I cut down my Hellebore foliage a little too early in the Autumn (it is normally looking looking pretty awful by the end of September) and whether this might prompt early flowering?

[brianw]

Leena, I think it is more to do with having a relatively benign (but wet!) climate than any skill exercised by (this) gardener. We have had only two very light frosts so far this year. I sometimes wonder if I cut down my Hellebore foliage a little too early in the Autumn (it is normally looking looking pretty awful by the end of September) and whether this might prompt early flowering?

I am just thinking of cutting back my leaves. Even after they collapsed in the summer heat they came back up again eventually, and most are still green. The flower stems are now getting going with the first flowers opening here.
I have 2 9" pots of Narcissus "Spring Dawn" in full flower. They are the first "Daffs" of the season for me. Great bulbs and no trouble or special treatment. Haven't repotted them for 2 years at least. Maybe I will plant them amongst the hellebores.