Stand by to be Hellebored!

I just love hellebores and it has taken me years of trying to get them to establish themselves in my garden. I am no plantswoman and can't tell you their names. I do use the plant labels which come with the plants and stick them in the soil alongside, but find that during the winter these labels have been pulled out and lost. I'm just content that they grow for me.

These clumps are growing on the other side of the garden, and there is still one more plant whose leaves are different from the others, but it's flowers are not open yet.

Today has been absolutely glorious - whatever the weather throws at us next week, I really think spring has arrived. The frogs have been busy again and given us another big clump of frogspawn.

It is hard to believe that a few short weeks ago I photographed some fat green buds on our clematis. Now those buds are stems about a foot long.

Our latest acquisition is Arthur Bell, a climbing rose with perfumed golden yellow flowers. I don't think I shall be sitting in his shade this year but he's looking very healthy and will probably climb the pergola post before the summer is out and we might even get a flower or two. He takes the place of a clematis which refused to have any flowers.

It's not warm enough to sit outside yet of course, but lovely for a walk this morning with our daughter's dog - Poppy - who is always good company.