Rain Drops and Hellebores

I haven't had much time for blogging this weekend.  Today, I found some moments between laundry loads to go down the list of blogs I follow.  After supper, I visited Cathy, at Outside In, who had a post called, "Rain Drops".  Since it has been raining much of today, I told her I was going to brave the cool temps and take some pics, too.  I ended up taking over 300 pictures!

I have a couple irises that just opened yesterday.

I am still loving these double pink tulips.

I've never grown this kind of lily.   I have two clumps now, and they are looking to be getting ready to bloom.

And now, for the hellebore part.  Larry and I went to an annual plant sale called, "Spring Affair" yesterday.  A nursery a few hours away from here puts it on.  That was the reason I went to B&B the day before, to see what else I needed.  I knew hellebores were on the list of plants at the sale.  I took my camera, but didn't take any pictures. The experience was not pleasant.  We got there 20 minutes before the sale started to get in line.  Larry was ready to go to the truck after finding his snail vines, and looking for the items on our son's list.  I had a box filled with my hellebores and a few other plants, so I stood in line with him to get a ticket showing how much to pay, and then get in another line to pay.  Then, I finished my shopping, being bumped into by the hoards of people, and having trouble getting to some of the plants.

Here is the area next to our front porch.  I got all but 2 of the hellebores planted with the other 2 I already purchased for almost 4 times the $5.00 each I paid for these, which are Helleborus X Hybridus (Orientalis), mixed colors.

These are 3 of the new ones.  

This is one of my expensive ones.  I think its name is Mardi Gras.

Going down the line, I'm showing the plant, then a close up of a flower or flowers.

This one is the Party Dress Improved:

This is the flower stem that broke off the previous plant:

I don't know if I'll go back to the plant sale.  When I went to pay for my second load, the lines were long.  When I was next to pay, a volunteer told people there were 3 cashiers, so they could move up and form 3 lines.  People were going around me, because I just stood there.  I had announced that I was next, but no one paid attention.  When the next cashier was ready, I thrust my ticket over some people's box of plants, telling her I was next.  I was glad she realized I was, and didn't serve the cutters first.  People had already been cutting in the other line, too.  I don't like the person that brings out in me.  If I do go next year, it will be a quick get what I need and not try to see all the plants, or else I'll pay the $35 to go to the preview dinner and shopping the evening before.

Now, I need to get back to my blog reading, as soon as I can eke out more time for it!