Helleborus x hybridus ‘Blue Lady’ (Lenten Rose) While many hellebores have been flowering here at the TBG for over a month now, this Perennial Plant of the Year for 2005, located in the Entry Garden, is actually on time – rather than early as it were for many – the flower buds are at many stages, from tightly swelling buds to ready-to-open. I’d say it’s about time to cut back last year’s leathery leaves and make room for the flowers!
Crocus x luteus ‘Golden Yellow’ (syn. Crocus flavus, common name Crocus) In the Garden Hall Courtyard – Bank, this is the common yellow- flowering crocus with yellow to orange petals. It blooms in early spring, and by this year’s standards is right on time, flowering shortly after Galanthus. Look for it in the Entry Garden as well, in the next few weeks.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ (Witch hazel) The bare branches of winter-flowering Witch hazels are adorned with crimped flower petals. ’Diane’, having received the distinction of Award of Garden Merit from the RHS, is recognizable for her deep red-orange flower colour, with a broad crown and open habit. In the West View Terrace & Garden Hall Courtyard.
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter aconite) Now flowering in the Entry Garden along Lawrence, & the Garden Hall Courtyard at the base of the waterfall. Winter aconites are bright yellow, late-winter to early-spring -flowering bulbs, from March to April, usually before crocus. They will naturalize with time – be patient! Conditions must be optimum.
Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ (Daffodil) This is the classic yellow trumpet daffodil, in a compact form. Clumps of Rijnveld’s Early Sensation are all in bud in the West View Terrace along the building. A little early? At first I thought so but then learned that this particular variety is one of the earliest to bloom in mid- to late-winter, tolerating snow & cold. Of which we really haven’t had much.
Galanthus (Snowdrop) These late-winter, early-spring -flowering gems of the garden are fully in flower in the Demonstration Courtyard off the deliveries entrance from Lawrence. The groupings here have naturalized nicely considering they were only planted 3 to 4 years ago, & some of which have been flowering since Christmas!
about the author: Sandra Pella
Sandra Pella has worked as Head Gardener of the Toronto Botanical Garden since 2008. She holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario, and upon graduation worked in the financial sector until the pull of plants was too much to resist, whereupon she found herself at Janet Anderson Perennials (formerly JEA Perennials) as a horticultural technician. She has been the Perennial Manager at Summerhill Nursery & Floral followed by the Assistant Horticulturist at the TBG prior to its renovation. Sandra worked as a Gardener for two seasons with the City of Toronto as well as seasonal Gardener for the TBG prior to being named Head Gardener. She is self-taught in the field and thus greatly appreciated the experience a gardening internship in 2009 at Great Dixter in the UK brought to her. Sandra has a regular What’s In Bloom blog and is one of the spokespeople for the TBG.
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