Counting Down to Christmas

I know it's not even Advent yet, and to be honest I don't really like the fact that all the shops in London have put up their Christmas decorations already. But, when it comes to planning flowers for Christmas one does have to start early. Earlier than this weekend actually, but unfortunately I am not that organised.
This week I received a batch of amaryllis bulbs and small hellebore plants, which I intend to nurture to the best of my abilities in the hope that they will flower for Christmas. 'Hippeastrum Carmen' is a variety that produces rich dark red blooms - as you can see from this photo they are absolutely beautiful

Photo: Anna Linder

I plan to pot 3 bulbs up in a bowl for a central table display (I have no idea which bowl yet so I will have to start them off in something humdrum) and then 3 bulbs planted individually in these smoky green glass pots from H&M Home

The little hellebore plants are a luscious purply red, called 'Helleborus Purpuracens'. I hope to bring these to flower for Christmas, and afterwards I will plant them in the garden where they will bring a welcome shot of colour to the darker corners during the winter.

 

Photo: Gardens4You

I ordered the bulbs and plants from a firm called Gardens4you which posted them to me from The Netherlands. If I had gotten them here in England it could easily have cost a fortune. And yes, I do believe in buying locally, but unfortunately the two florists in our little town do not have the same tastes as I do...