| A Shade Loving, Early Blooming Perennial | | | | turning them pale pink. |
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| Through the years a variety of plants have | | | | Double Fantasy Christmas Rose Gift Offer |
| come to be called "Christmas Rose"; they are | | | | |
| all steeped in a legend that dates back | | | | This year we have the brand new double |
| centuries. Most frequently, the plant | | | | Christmas Rose - 'Double Fantasy' that will |
| Americans associate with the Christmas Rose | | | | make a lovely and thoughtful gift. 'Double |
| legend is the hellebore. | | | | Fantasy' features pure white, ruffled blooms |
| | | | with several rows of petals that look even |
| In late winter the first plants to bloom in | | | | more like true roses. They "pop" against the |
| my garden are the Christmas hellebores - | | | | evergreen dark green foliage. 'Double |
| often first appearing when there is still | | | | Fantasy' can be kept in the house and planted |
| snow on the ground. Their blooms and | | | | in the garden in the spring. It will look |
| evergreen foliage brighten the winter garden | | | | lovely under deciduous trees, next to shady |
| and offer a hint of the spring to come. | | | | patios or courtyard gardens. Be sure to plant |
| Native to much of Europe, hellebores were | | | | your Christmas Rose up close, so you can |
| grown in Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia as | | | | enjoy its beautiful blooms in mid-winter. |
| early as 1793 and today it seems that | | | | 'Double Fantasy' provides a pleasant textural |
| gardeners can't get enough of them. Over the | | | | diversion in a bed of hostas, or in a mixed |
| past decade, plant breeders have created many | | | | border. And, deer do not eat hellebores. |
| new hybrids of the latter blooming Lenten | | | | |
| Rose (Helleborus orientalis). Now they have | | | | Planting and Care |
| started to work their magic upon the | | | | |
| Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger). | | | | 'Double Fantasy' is permanent and easy to |
| | | | grow. It matures into a mound of evergreen |
| The Christmas Rose Legend | | | | leaves ultimately almost three feet wide and |
| | | | 18-24 inches high and lasts for decades. In |
| When the Magi laid their rich offerings of | | | | most North American climates, where the soil |
| myrrh, frankincense, and gold, by the bed of | | | | freezes, a winter thaw will bring the much |
| the sleeping Christ Child, legend says that a | | | | appreciated floral display. |
| shepherd maiden stood outside the door | | | | |
| quietly weeping. | | | | Keep 'Double Fantasy' in a cool place in the |
| | | | house throughout the winter. |
| She, too, had sought the Christ Child and | | | | |
| desired to bring him gifts. But she had | | | | For best results plant in early spring after |
| nothing to offer, for she was very poor | | | | the danger of frost. |
| indeed. She had searched the countryside over | | | | |
| for one little flower to bring Him, but she | | | | Prefers shade. |
| could find neither bloom nor leaf, for the | | | | |
| winter had been cold. | | | | Rated as very deer-resistant! |
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| And as she stood there weeping, an angel | | | | Plant 30-36 inches apart in a moist, |
| passing saw her sorrow, and stooping, the | | | | compost-rich, well-drained soil. |
| angel brushed aside the snow at her feet. And | | | | |
| there sprang up on the spot a cluster of | | | | Cut back the old foliage in spring. |
| beautiful winter roses,-waxen with light pink | | | | |
| petals. | | | | Water regularly until established. |
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| "Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold," said | | | | Hardy in zones 4-9. |
| the angel, "is offering more meet for the | | | | |
| Christ Child than these pure Christmas | | | | Fertilize with Cottonseed Meal and Kelp Meal |
| Roses." These the shepherd maiden carries to | | | | in early spring. |
| Jesus, who smiles broadly and touches them, | | | | |