What a vast array of plants you will get to explore if you join the ranunc group. They will keep you going all year. Study days around the country, newsletters and zoom lectures, the last being Andrew Ward on his exciting sand beds. Needless to say, all members are enthusiastic and friendly just like the Essex HPS group.

To whet your appetite, at this time of year, hepaticas and helleborus orientalis. Both are jewels in the floral department. Hepaticas, japonica can be more difficult to grow but noblis can seed anywhere, even in the cracks in the paving.

Both benefit from being displayed floating in a dish of water, hellebores especially so as they shyly droop their heads, but some can be quite pretty viewed from above. Cut the leaves off in November or December so that they can display their beauty to the full. Ashwood Nursey are renowned for their stunning cultivars but treasures can be picked up in  local garden centres. The market now has many hybrids but Anna’s red and Penny’s pink are hard to beat. Their silver veined leaves add to their attraction. There are of course many more hellebores to enjoy, why not explore. Just what we need to cheer us up in February and March.

Margot Grice

To find out more follow this link https://hardy-plant.org.uk/group/ranunculaceae