winter flowering magic ..

below is a photo of helleborus niger flower buds .. this is the first of many different hellebores that will bloom in this winter .. hellebores were one of phil's favourites for the garden because they are able to tolerate varying amounts of shade and, of course, because they bloom during winter months ..


i attempted to get a good close up of one of the hellebore's buds .. i wish you could see it the way i do ..


and, i've been watching this witchhazel (hamammelis intermedia) for a few weeks waiting to see just what i'm seeing here .. this crack of colour is stunning .. what a performance this one is starting to put on for us ..