Sylvia that is so cool. I was wondering what type of birches those were since they did not look familiar. What zone were you in when you had them? I do not recall seeing these at any of our local nurseries, so am wondering is this is because they would not survive our really harsh winters. (We are zone 5–6).
I have never attempted Hellebores, maybe I will give them a try this next growing season.
My Pulmonarias are loving a heavily shaded and wind protected area out side the kitchen window and provide a lovely early spring show. Sadly the pretty, spotted one, “Mrs. Moon” has been taken over by the plan leaved, peach coloured one.
In that area I have now added a hydrangea paniculata, which seems to like it there. It replaces a Purple Leafed Sandcherry that was plagued with decay and various cherry fungus diseases, and which had to be removed.
Sadly the big box stores have made life difficult for “real” plant places and many have sold up to builders, so finding interesting and unusual plants is becoming very tricky.
A few years ago I tried out a “hardy” cactus which evidently grows in the very harsh western provinces environment, so was supposed to easily survive here. Interesting but very hostile plant. It eventually gave up because the location I had it in did not get enough sun, and also was a location where snow gets piled. It was an interesting experiment, but its propensity to leave its barbs in ones skin at unexpected times, and the short lived bloom period suggests to me that it is not right for my garden.
