As observed during February 2012
7/2/2012
Shoots leaves and flowers
With the days lengthening and the soil warming; growth, especially in herbaceous plants, is shooting away. 
Helleborus vesicarius is looking promising with flowers colouring optimistically. Opening green these squat cylindrical flowers slowly develop a wide mauve red band on the petals, drooping down to face the ground.
Found in localised clusters amongst Juniperus sp. in SE Turkey where it grows in limestone rock on dry steep
exposed hillsides. Summers in these areas are dry and the plant dies back to below ground; shooting out again in November as the rains come.
Keep an eye on the development of any seed pods; these are unusual as they inflate during development. As the foliage dries up during the summer dormancy these brown pods are broken away from the remains of the foliage and disperse further from the parent plant.
1/2/2012
Grey skies, moisture laden leaves
Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii ‘John Tomlinson’ is brought to life after rain. The droplets collect on the grey blue waxy cuticle of the leaf and reflect light. Arranged spirally on the stem the leaves are long and linear with a red tint
to the new growth.
A prominent plant in the border it spreads from the woody base once established. Reaching to approx one metre height; the growth is topped off by a mass of yellowish green bracts.
When cultivating around Euphorbia’s be aware that the sap can cause skin damage. This plant prefers a well drained soil and a sunny situation reflecting its Southern European origins.